Countdown to Freedom

It seems to me, and any other high-school age kid, that we have been waiting for
the start of summer for our entire lives. Eons have been wasted pining for
those hot summer nights with nothing to do except stuff yourself with cone
after cone of black raspberry ice cream from Hill Top.  Ahh ... how I wish for those days to come.

However, wishing, I have learned (as well as playing obnoxious montages of songs that
remind you of summer) does nothing but annoy your parents. Sadly. Therefore, I have begun to steel myself up for the last bit of May, and the rest of June. For you normal folks out there, summer starts in 31 days ( Counting today).  June 21^st I’m told is the official, undisputed beginning of the summer season.  Yet - and I know I’m speaking for all other school-age children out there - summer does not begin until the school year ends.  I have also heard that we will not be released until the 23^rd of June? Or is it the 22^nd? Anyway, my summer starts a bit later then your summer.

It's funny, how summer has two completely different meanings. For most people, it’s
merely a time to hold a few BBQ’s and water the lawn to make sure it doesn’t get
all brown and splotchy. However, for the 18-and-under members of the population, “summer” does not hold the same meaning. Not even close. For us, it coincides with words like “liberation” and “freedom.” For us, it can never come fast enough. We all look forward to trips to Six Flags, to the beach, to a movie, anywhere, we don’t care. We’re just ecstatic not to be in school.

Free from the stress and the mounting piles of homework (I have to go at mine with a pickax these days). Free from the pressure of high school. Until the fall, but I have absolutely no intention of mentioning that. For now?  My mantra, as I slog through this last bit of my sophomore year, is going to be a countdown of the days until my freedom - 34, I think, counting today.

“Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those
have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

   ~Henry James

Until next week,

Rachel