Finally – the dog days of summer

Well, at least the start of summer, anyway.

Although the near 100 degree days we have experienced (enjoyed) last week saw at least one high temperature record of over 100 years fall, we are technically still enjoying a warmer than usual spring season.

Until Monday afternoon that is – at exactly 5:34 p.m. when the Summer Solstice arrives, marking the start of the summer season.

It’s no secret that I’ve never – never ever – been a fan at all of winter. It wasn’t something that has happened since growing older. Winter has always been my least favorite stretch of the year, even when the neighborhood kids would gather atop the big hill at Memorial Hill Cemetery for one of our into the night sledding and snow fight excursions.

I loved the competition of a good snowball fight, but I hated being cold and wet. Still do.

Sitting in a life-guarding chair with the sun beaming down on me or chasing a group of campers around Trooper Island or dragging a carry bag around 76 Falls Country Club and getting a good sunburn or water skiing “all the way from Adam’s Dock” was a much better way to spend an afternoon than anything we could find to do in the winter months.

Still is.

News about local sports may slow down significantly for the next several weeks as our students enjoy a little time away from the field, but rest assured, they aren’t totally slacking.

Football practice, golf practice, soccer practice and cross country training will soon be the front and center activity for the next set of athletes we’ll be covering in these Clinton County News Sports pages.

So, get out and enjoy the sun and the heat (but use some sunscreen – something we didn’t know about during those days in the 70s in that lifeguard chair), and take advantage of what Mother Nature will throw our way for the next few months.

Hit the golf course. Get the boat wet. Fire up the grill.

Summer begins Monday, but before you know it, we’ll be talking about Labor Day and the fall weather that comes after – and then the “W” word will be here before we know it.

Get outside while we can, and enjoy the new summer season.

Summer Solstice 2016 / 5:34 p.m., Monday, June 20.