We seem to be in the most wonderful weather pattern. The days are in the 70’s and the nights are in the 60’s. Today we even have a bit of a breeze. I don’t mind errands. I love being out and enjoying the day.

When I was a kid, I sometimes drove to mass with my father. Other times I walked either by myself or with my brother. We could go to mass upstairs in the main part of the church or downstairs. Mostly we went downstairs as there was seldom a sermon. I usually glitched out during a sermon. If I wanted to be lectured, my parents were enough. Besides, I wasn’t really into sin. I’d read the hymnal, look around and get antsy. I only went upstairs if it was SRO, and I could sit outside on the steps. I was never really devout.

Sunday was usually such a peaceful day. Most stores were closed. The day was treated almost sacredly. Even my neighborhood which was filled with kids was quiet, but summer Sundays were a bit different. They were casual. We didn’t have a big dinner. My father often barbecued. It was always hamburgers and hot dogs. My mother made potato salad or pepper and eggs. There were always chips. Dessert was whatever we could find, sometimes cookies, sometimes watermelon, sometimes ice cream if we were really lucky. Sunday nights we usually watched TV. My mother used to cover the windows to keep the heat from the sun away so the TV was bright in the darkened room. I remember the flickering of the black and white screen.

The town pool was at the other end of town. Mostly we walked. I’d carry my towel and my bathing suit. I had a dime, the cost of admission. The girls’ section was to the left. It had benches and lockers. The locker key was on a sort of bracelet you could put on your wrist. I remember towels spread around the pool on the concrete. I remember teen couples on those towels. I sort of gaped on my way by. The diving board was at the far end of the pool. I used to dive off it. I’d stand ready as if it were an Olympic competition. I do remember one dive. I went so deeply I hit the bottom of the pool with my face. I cracked a tooth and split my lip. The lifeguard drove me home. I was ten.

Today is another glorious day, a just right day. The sun is bright and framed in a deep blue sky. It will be in the mid 60’s today and the 50’s tonight, perfect for daytime roaming and nighttime sleeping. This is such a lovely time of year.

When I was a kid, I thought my world was huge. It was filled with adventures and discoveries. This time of year the swamp was alive with tadpoles darting through the water and dragonflies skimming across the top of the water. The swamp was large in the middle with sort of little canals going back from it into the brush. In the winter we could walk the canals, but in the summer the brush was too thick. I remember the small canals froze first, and I could see all the plants under the ice. The swamp got green with algae in the summer.

On Green Street, there was a field with a red barn. Two horses grazed the field. We used to try to feed them grass. We had notions of riding them but never dared to climb the fence. The fact I had never ridden a horse under saddle let alone bareback didn’t stop me from hoping.

My trusty steed, my bicycle, took me everywhere. It was the sort with no gears and back of the pedals brakes. It had a wire basket on the front. It had thick tires. It was quick down hills. I flew. I learned to ride it with no hands. I used to brake in the sand on purpose so my bike would slide. I used to ride by the golf courses and look for errant golf balls. Sometimes I’d ride along Spot Pond from the zoo to the pool then try to make it up the hill near the pool. I always ended up walking my bike partway. The downhill side was close to the square. I used to stop on the benches under the trees by the town hall and eat lunch.

I’d get home in the late afternoon. My mother usually asked where I’d been. I always answered, “Around.”