My Love/Hate Relationship with Summer

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cues and pool parties to celebrate. It’s ironic because Memorial Day is actually intended to remember fallen soldiers, but the U.S. is nothing if not unconventional.)As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that summer isn’t all it’s cracked up to be: it’s hot, the air is often sticky/smelly, the weather can be unpredictable, and people are much grumpier when their internal temperatures are skyrocketing.Summer is also a miserable time to work in retail, <a href="https://readmedium.com/retail-hell-open-letter-to-home-improvement-shoppers-this-weekend-fa20236c9e59">especially home improvement.</a> Last summer, I often joked that I needed a bed in the back of the store because I spent so much time there.It was great for my bank account, but for my sanity? Not so much. (Good thing I’m already insane, since I’m a writer and that’s the same thing as being a glutton for punishment. Anyway, moving on.)Point being, there are some nice things about summer, and I’d like to focus on those.<figure id="03e5"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*-GqJIQxc3dZYbA-UtsEQOg.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>For a lot of people, the taste of summer is watermelon or peach. The smell is either the salty ocean or the chlorine-infested pool. The sounds vary by whether they prefer beaches or amusement parks.For me?This is the taste of summer:<figure id="018b"><img

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src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*FLvJrK9Q1y7SKj41ngfWCw.png"><figcaption><a href="https://www.nestleusa.com/brands/ice-cream">Image: Nestle USA</a></figcaption></figure>Drumstick Ice Cream is the kind of treat that I can only associate with the summer, because my parents have never seen a reason to buy it in the winter, and I can’t begrudge them that.This treat also takes me back to many afternoons by our pool, fingers and face sticky with sugary residue. I remember “washing” my hands in the pool water rather than go inside and do it, since that seemed like a big waste of time to my childish mind — sorry, Mom and Dad! (They both read my articles.)To me, these ice cream cones are synonymous with summer. There are other things, certainly, that make me think of summer and smile, but no taste, sound, feeling, smell, or sight is more ubiquitous than this ice cream cone.<h2 id="9c37">Hi, I’m Bri! (she/her)</h2>Brianna Bennett is a professional writer, self-published author, Bookstagrammer (booksby_bri), and TikTok content creator (booksbybri). When she isn’t writing on Medium, she’s probably writing her books, listening to music, or watching true crime documentaries.To keep up with her, subscribe to her newsletter at <a href="http://www.booksbybri.com!">www.booksbybri.com!</a> While you’re there, check out her books and other fun goodies! Thanks for reading!</article></body>

It’s a complicated one.

I’m not much of a wine drinker, but I liked the contemplative attitude of this photo. So there. // Image credit: Skitterphoto on Pexels

Here are some other articles I’ve written about the summer season: 1 & 2

After spending a large chunk of my life looking forward to summer vacation, I can’t help but feel an anticipatory excitement bubbling inside me throughout the weeks leading up to Memorial Day.

(In the U.S., the final Monday in May is the unofficial start of summer, since people often have barbecues and pool parties to celebrate. It’s ironic because Memorial Day is actually intended to remember fallen soldiers, but the U.S. is nothing if not unconventional.)

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that summer isn’t all it’s cracked up to be: it’s hot, the air is often sticky/smelly, the weather can be unpredictable, and people are much grumpier when their internal temperatures are skyrocketing.

Summer is also a miserable time to work in retail, especially home improvement. Last summer, I often joked that I needed a bed in the back of the store because I spent so much time there.

It was great for my bank account, but for my sanity? Not so much. (Good thing I’m already insane, since I’m a writer and that’s the same thing as being a glutton for punishment. Anyway, moving on.)

Point being, there are some nice things about summer, and I’d like to focus on those.

For a lot of people, the taste of summer is watermelon or peach. The smell is either the salty ocean or the chlorine-infested pool. The sounds vary by whether they prefer beaches or amusement parks.

For me?

This is the taste of summer:

Drumstick Ice Cream is the kind of treat that I can only associate with the summer, because my parents have never seen a reason to buy it in the winter, and I can’t begrudge them that.

This treat also takes me back to many afternoons by our pool, fingers and face sticky with sugary residue. I remember “washing” my hands in the pool water rather than go inside and do it, since that seemed like a big waste of time to my childish mind — sorry, Mom and Dad! (They both read my articles.)

To me, these ice cream cones are synonymous with summer. There are other things, certainly, that make me think of summer and smile, but no taste, sound, feeling, smell, or sight is more ubiquitous than this ice cream cone.

Hi, I’m Bri! (she/her)

Brianna Bennett is a professional writer, self-published author, Bookstagrammer (booksby_bri), and TikTok content creator (booksbybri). When she isn’t writing on Medium, she’s probably writing her books, listening to music, or watching true crime documentaries.

To keep up with her, subscribe to her newsletter at www.booksbybri.com! While you’re there, check out her books and other fun goodies! Thanks for reading!