Lazy Days of Summer

Whatever happened to the lazy days of summer? I am reminded of the old Country Time Lemonade commercials where the grandpa sits in his porch swing enjoying a nice cold glass of lemonade while his grand kids sit next to him. They all seem to just be soaking in the day. No hurries and no worries. What has happened to the days when you could hook up a sprinkler and watch your kids play in it for hours. You had to pry yourself out of your bathing suit and your bicycle could take you anywhere. Remember when you could stay outside until 9:00 pm catching fireflies? You had to be dragged inside to bed by your mother who had spent at least twenty minutes calling your name. After tracking you down, on the other side of the neighborhood, you were on your way home where you would be forced to shower the days adventures out of your hair and go to sleep. In the old lazy days of summer, grandparents owned the universe and had all the time in the world to spend with you. Innocence was not an imagined idea but a reality. All your neighbors knew and liked each other. There were block parties that lasted until midnight. You could leave your door unlocked and your car windows down. What has happened to those beautiful lazy days of summer? Water restrictions in certain states prohibit unnecessary use of water so the kids get no sprinkler time. Staying outside until nine is possible as long as it’s in your own yard that is protected by a guard dog, a chain link fence, and your parents can see you at all times. If you are allowed to leave your yard your mom doesn’t have to scour the neighborhood looking for you. She can either page you or call you on the cell phone. If you’re at the neighbor’s house down the street, she may be able to instant message you on the computer. Now kids aren’t forced to take showers. It seems as though even the young have become image conscience. If your son or daughter decides that they want to go outside it is only to catch a ride to the mall and they only catch the ride after they have spent most of the morning styling their hair and putting on their name brand clothes and make-up (which also seems to include boys too). Nine O’clock is way too early to be in anymore. Midnight maybe but even then there will be an argument. Fireflies seem to be a thing of the past. Kids want to catch a movie or go to a friend’s house to hang out, being outside all day and getting sweaty is not cool. Grandparents don’t even seem to have the time of day anymore. Some grandparents have to raise their children’s children. They can’t afford the universe when they are worried about a grandkid’s college tuition. Block parties don’t even seem to happen anymore. Neighbors don’t even trust each other let alone want to break bread with the “Smiths” next door. I can just picture what the Country Time Lemonade Commercial would have to look like today. Grandpa takes a quick sip from the new “on the go” lemonade pouch on his way to his second job. The screen then cuts to the grandkids hanging at the mall sipping a quick glass while waiting for their movie to begin. Ah, the lazy days of summer.