Summertime

“Summertime, when the living is easy . . . ”

I love the song, “Summertime,” which is actually an aria written by George Gershwin in 1934 for the opera “Porgy and Bess.” The lyrics are credited to DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin.

Why do I love it? It dredges up memories of summers in my childhood . . . when “the living” truly was easy. School was out the last of May or the beginning of June, and did not begin again until September. That meant no more homework, no school books, sleeping late, running barefoot through the grass, chasing butterflies, or whatever . . . Just lazy days at home.

Today, however, our lives have become so fast-paced and busy, life seems to whiz by. We hurry through summer, fall back into our regular schedules along about September, and before long we’re gathering around the Christmas tree. And then, we barely get through Christmas, it seems, before we’re making plans for the next one.

Makes one think that perhaps the “good old days,” really were the good old days!

Speaking of days, we’re still in “dog days,” those hot, sticky days beginning in July and continuing until the middle of August. But . . . it’s summertime! Let’s slow down, thank the Lord for our blessings, and enjoy each day!

Grace and peace to you,

Mary Emma