New Land, New Zeal.: Daydreams of Summer

Back from an extended weekend with a couple good friends out in Fiordland National Park. As you may know, winter is quickly approaching here. Although between switching on another cycle of my heater and taking a sip of hot tea, I click through facebook pictures of barefoot friends in green grass and read statuses of barbeques, frisbee, and laying out in the sun. Even the calendar seems to suggest that it is, in fact, summer time. I've been having a hard time visualizing summer recently. I keep expecting Thanksgiving to be on its way and found myself getting giddy for Christmas after seeing the year round lights on the leafless trees downtown. And frankly, laying out in the sun and going for a swim doesn't sound all that appealing to me right now. For a moment during one of our hikes this weekend, I felt I was on summer vacation. The academic cloud that hovers above a student with approaching finals lifted and I could picture myself enjoying my time in the wilderness but soon returning to an Omaha summer. Then a turn in the trail snapped me out of my daydream and back into the dense moss and fern covered forests of New Zealand and just like that, I struggled to remember what summer feels like again. I don't have the tingly anticipation that I usually get in late April and Early May as days get longer and warmer and the end of school draws nearer and nearer. My transition period this year will consist of the 3 seconds it takes to pass through the revolving doors at the airport entrance. I'll let you know if it tingles. I'm sure I'll find my summer spirit soon after returning. I'm hoping that during the drive home from the airport, the lush trees, warm air, and tan little sister will remind me what summer is all about. So enjoy the season my friends; keep the grills hot, the sprinklers spraying, the laughter plentiful, and the clothes minimal. I will be joining you shortly.