Summer comes to us late, here on the coast. We are still in full swing of “spring” but summer is definitely on the horizon. All the flowers are starting to bloom, the sun is (kinda) making its appearance and soon the smells of cold damp mist of the sea will change to fresh cut grass and sunscreen. I love this time of year! People become happy and blissful.
We have a tendency, here on the coast of the great Pacific Northwest, to become crazy raving lunatics in the winter. Maybe it’s the lack of vitamin D, maybe it’s the endorphins and the nestalgia of all the summer smells have disappeared, maybe it’s because we can’t go outside without becoming soaking wet from head to toe. Regardless...we get kinda excited for summer. At least I do. It might have to do with the warmth (I’m ALWAYS cold!!). Or maybe it’s the smells: even though I was anointed with the lovely gift of seasonal allergies at birth,I absolutely bask in the smells of summer. My love for summer here on the coast could also be due to the fact that my hair will stay (somewhat) put and that good ol’ mother nature doesn’t feel the need to wash the makeup right off my face OR it could just be the simple fact that we start to see people. Real life people. Now, yes, these are the same “real life” people who make us roll our eyes and sigh. The same “real life people” that fill our lives with very fun stories to be remembered till the end of time. They are the same “real life people” that we see every June, July, August and September. But you know what? As much as we may grumble about “tourists” it’s my belief that we secretly love them. Do we get annoyed hearing, multiple times a day, such things as: “Where’s the beach?” and “Why can’t I get any cell service here!!” “Where’s the gas station?” “Do you have a bathroom I could use?” “Where’s Haystack Rock?” Sure, we get tired of hearing that...absolutely! But we also appreciate hearing the little things such as “Your town is just so cute!” “Omg, you guys have the BEST beach!” “You’re so lucky you get to live here. I wish I could stay here forever.” “Thank you so much!” By the end of summer we are happy the tourist’s have gone home but it’s a double edge sword: yes, summer ending allows us to sit down for more than just a hot second and actually take a breathe, but it also means that for the next six months (give or take) we are all stuck with nothing but each other. Let me tell ya...there’s not that many of us here. (((insert eye roll followed by sideways cheeky grin)))
So....as those flowers are adding color all around town, the birds are chirping like crazy, the air is buzzing with leaf blowers and lawn mowers, windows are open and people are sitting outside on the deck of the restaurants...we, here on the coast, are putting on our big girl/boy pants. Spring break is officially over and Memorial weekend is just around the corner which means one thing: tourist season is upon us.
Bring it! We’re ready.
Summer here we come...
