Summer Nights – I Miss the Tobacco Life

At this time of year, the newspaper industry is quite hectic.
Even though I now do all my work from this “home office,” some weeks I feel like I’m practically glued to this computer chair.
I find that I have to get up and move around every hour or so or I get stiff. Ah, old age…
The last two weeks have been no exception. Summer is always a busy time in County Clare. Summerfest wrapped up last Sunday but was delayed a bit due to stormy weather. Next week the annual 4th of July festivities take place with Saturday night racing in Farwell, Figure 8, Bump n' Run and Gut n' Go with the Demo Derby at the Fairgrounds… and excitement all over Harrison on July 6th with a parade, events in town and at the Fairgrounds and of course ending with a fabulous fireworks display.
I guess there's no excuse for not having some summer fun. Coming up and later is the Clare County Fair and the fun of chopping and rolling Farwell logs at the annual Lumberjack Festival on 19th and 20th July. Of course the Review will cover all of that!
Working from home is quite pleasant most of the time and especially in the summer. Sometimes, later in the day, I hear the birds calling each other “good night” and pretty soon I will be able to see the fireflies flickering in the front yard. I'll have to take a break to watch them as they come out.
I miss the river and the wildlife, but the summer sunrises and sunsets are also pretty spectacular here in our new place.
It always feels more like summer when the fireflies are out. I'll be sitting on the steps when I see their flickering lights, usually bringing the first signs of midsummer.
I love this time of day.
When the sun finally sets and the sky is still a bit clear in the west, everything seems “fine” again. Lately we have been watching the storm clouds gather in the west and south and we have had some pretty spectacular fireworks (lightning) in the sky in the middle of the night!
Last night was a good example of this and Jack said he was standing watching the lightning dance in the sky early this morning (Tuesday) and listening to the almost constant rumble of thunder down there.
This morning, after the rain finally stopped, he told me we had a little over an inch. (I think the grass has probably grown at least that much too, but it's too wet to mow).
No more rain is forecast today, nor for the next four days, he added… with the next rain forecast for Saturday.
Sitting on the porch when it rains a little is always nice. The air smells so fresh and clean and it's so peaceful.
When our children were home we would sit together by the river, it was a good time together, whether we were talking or just listening. Time passes so fast. They're all adults now, middle-aged in fact.
Today, even our grandchildren have grown up and have their own youngsters, except for Lisa's two daughters. They are working on their careers and they don't have much time to sit by the river anymore, although we still could. Even when there was no one around, sitting and watching the flow of tobacco was still considered a good time.
No matter where you are, it's not just how things look or even sound that matters. Each season has a different scent. Autumn has the faint flavor of burnt leaves. Winter is cold, crisp and clean. Spring means the blooming of lilacs and the scent of new things growing.
Summer is lush and green, with the scent of wildflowers growing along the road as you walk and the sweet smell of freshly cut grass.
Every season has something special, but summer evenings are hard to beat.