Anne LeClaire

Today at noon we are going to a birthday beach party in Yarmouth, then at 4, I'm off to a Ladies Garden Tea in Eastham, and then HIllary and I reconnect at 7 PM to go to a bookstore in Chatham to hear a friend give a talk. That's what our lives are like these days. Sandwiched in between theatre, gardening ( first cukes harvested this week, two peppers about ready), seeing friends, having house guests. swimming, and keeping up with the daily demands of home and body and chickens, we are managing to work. Hillary is clamming about every day and I am trying to finish writing my book before the end of August when I leave for Maui to teach at the writers' conference there.

So, what I'm wondering is this: What happened to the lazy days of summer? Remember them? Lulling in a hammock or on the porch swing. Reading. Back yard picnics. Croquet. Domino games in the late afternoon. Summer church fairs. July and August on the Cape have a frantic air and I wonder if this is because this is a resort destination or if it's reflective of the times we live in. Or just an indication of my own life.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. How is your summer unfolding?