The morning is hot, already 76°, but luckily there is a wind. The clouds are scattered. It will be a good day.

It is the summer solstice, the longest day in the year, the first real day of summer, but this is a flimflam, a deception. Starting tomorrow, the days get shorter. Sadly, even pessimistically, we get closer to fall every day.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the release of Jaws. I saw it on the first day. I stood in line for what seemed like hours at the movie theater. The only consolation to my waiting was the line behind was so long it disappeared around the corner. I’ll never forget the opening theme, the crescendo. I swear my heart started beating out of my chest with the same intensity. I’ll never forget that opening scene with the sound of the buoy, the view of the swimmer from below then the first tug then the back and forth and her screams. I swear I sat on the edge of my seat, my back stiff. After she was pulled under for the last time, the stillness of the ocean was almost just as frightening.

When I have my movies on the deck, my July 4th movie, alternates between Independence Day and, of course, Jaws. I decorate about the same every July 4th. For Independence Day, I have Stars and Stripes on placemats, napkins, bowls and serving dishes. For Jaws, I have wine glasses with sharks, glass sharks, on the bottoms. I have shark napkins and life preserver napkins. My centerpiece is driftwood, a small shark looking piece of wood surrounded by shells. Jaws music greets my guests. One of my friends hated that movie. She came reluctantly to see it, drawn by the friends and food. Whenever the shark was on the screen, she covered her eyes, but she still had to listen to the music. My friend did not swim in the ocean for years, not even by the shoreline.

Right now I am watching a shark movie, a sort of getting into the spirit. The movie is Santa Jaws. The festive killer shark is wearing a Santa hat on its fin. After all, the action takes place on Christmas Eve.

I have a to do list, a short one. I have an empty dance card. That’s it for the day, for the next few days.