My girl’s idea of a perfect summer day
Starts in the dark, before dawn
waking up in a narrow dorm bed under well-worn covers
stumbling across the tiny room to quiet a blaring alarm
and gulping down a quick bowl of cold cereal with milk.
My girl’s idea of a perfect summer day
doesn’t involve a plan for cruising the air conditioned shopping mall
tanning by the pool in a teeny tiny bikini
or a mani-pedi with girlfriends, chatting about the latest celebrity gossip
My girl would rather pull on her red and black speed suit
knee high magenta and orange wool socks
slather her freckled face with sunscreen, hair in a messy braid
throw her pack on her back and grab her Volkls
My girl’s idea of a perfect summer day
isn’t like mine was, playing jacks on the cold linoleum kitchen floor
reading Nancy Drew in the soft grass
or dominating the world at RISK
She’s climbing high above the clouds
looking out from the edge of her world
hoping for sixty seconds of air time as she zigzags down the snowfield
wind brushing her face, bright blue eyes shining behind pink goggles
golden brown braid blowing in the wind
My girl’s idea of a perfect summer day
fills both our hearts with happiness
and gratitude
What does your perfect summer day look like?