Summertime is finally here

This summer has been flying by. Flying. I know everyone says it, and I probably say it every year too, but this one really seems to be stuck on fast forward. How did it get so late so soon? I think for me, it's mostly because it monsooned through all of June, and I had guests in town through all of July. In a way, my regular, routined, hot, humid summer felt like it started when August rolled around. Which was yesterday.

In an effort to grab summer by the horns, I marked August 1 with a lovely mini-vacay. Six great friends and I woke up early Saturday morning and high-tailed it to Penn Station, where we caught a train out to the Jersey Shore. (Note: I have never traveled anywhere via Penn Station when I was not breathlessly sprinting to the track. Something about that chaotic little land practically forces you to be just 30 seconds away from missing your train out of the city. Always.)

But, by the hair of our chinny chin chins, we all seven made it on the same train, in the same car. We sipped our iced coffee and reminisced about sorority and fraternity life - which, by the way, when you recount the tales of rush and cooks and houses and rituals, sounds RIDICULOUS - and got out to the sand by 11am. From there we soaked up the sun, wandered into Pier Village for lunch, and snoozed. We also got attacked by a rising tide, which was, um, refreshing?

After 6 hours on the beach, we took our sun kissed (or sunburned, depending on who you asked) selves back into town for dinner. We ate tacos and guac at a little Hawaiian restaurant, and then perched ourselves on a pier to people watch. A few of us even attempted to sneak into a wedding reception, although we were far from successful. Finally, as the sun began to set, we stopped by Carmella's - no relation to the Soprano - for some gelato. The day ended with us running (what can I say, I like symmetry) to the train station and then crashing on the ride home... delirious from the sun, exhausted, rosy-cheeked, bellies full of ice cream, laughing hysterically.

Now that finally sounds like summer has arrived.

"Summertime is finally here

That old ballpark, man, is back in gear

Out on 49

Man I can see the lights

School's out and the nights roll in

Man, just like a long lost friend

You ain't seen in awhile

And can't help but smile"

Kenny Chesney

(because every summer song is by Kenny Chesney)