Summer, according to the calendar, has fully arrived, but the solstice has nothing on the noiser signs of summer. Our neighbor noted two days ago that he was glad to finally hear our screen door slamming — and that he’d be thrilled to hear it even hundreds of times a day. Even more than the solstice, the screen door shouts out, “Summer!”
Each time the door slams, Monkey Man or Gorilla Girl run to the yard, explore the garden of weeds, dig in the sandbox, or prepare to jump into the pool. Other slams announce the arrival of neighbors coming for an impromptu dinner and conversation. Some slams mean we’ve arrived back from Greenbush, loaded down with delicious beer for the next party.
TF had it quite right when he said the slams are a welcome change from the quiet of the winter and spring, and a harbinger of the unruly energy, and noisy giddiness of summer.
Sometimes when the door slams, I sing in my head, “The screen door slams, Mary’s dress waves. Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays.”
Bruce Springsteen seems like summer, too.
Well, when I read the title, I was planning to comment, “Mary’s dress waves,” but you beat me to it. Happy Summer! I hope we can get together one of these days.