I used to be a summer girl. Growing up in Massachusetts, the winters were incredibly long and bitter, and the thought of summer would get me through. Summers in New England are warm, but not oppressive, and even when the occasional heat wave rolls through, a giant thunderstorm will follow and bring cool air with it. I always spent my summers outside, either working at an outdoor park, sitting by a pool, or reading on my porch swing well into the evening. My love for summer weather eventually contributed to my decision to move to San Diego. The sunshine changed my mood for the better, and I wanted to have it available all year round.
The first summer we spent in Philadelphia was brutal. I remember moving our stuff into our third floor apartment and being appalled by how hot it was. We used some of our savings to buy little window air conditioner units, and I don't remember being able to turn them off until the end of September. While Chase was at school and in between looking for a job, I hunted for an outdoor space to escape from our apartment. I never succeeded. One night Chase returned from class to announce he was taking me to a park (!). The park ended up being private property squeezed behind a city hospital, and we were quickly asked to leave. It was such a shock to come from a place with endless sandy beaches and an apartment complex that had a pool. I started to hate summer.
Each summer has gotten a little better in Philadelphia. We plan strategic weekend trips to the beach, and visits to the city pool but as we are nearing mid-August, I again wish for summer to be finished. The city buildings trap the heat, and we have had little rain to cool things down. I am becoming an Autumn girl, and I'll dream of it to get me through this summer.
This Fall, I'll be looking forward to:
1. using my oven without feeling as if my apartment will spontaneously combust
2. cooking with apples
3. hard cider
4. boots
5. opening all of our windows
6. wearing my hair down
7. leaves
8. my favorite crossing guard who will return to our neighborhood elementary school post
9. cooking with butternut squash
10. cool nights that require thermal sheets and my down comforter
