Glory Days, Well They’ll Pass You By

Glory Days in the blink of a young girl’s eye

Glory Days Glory Days

Those are the immortal words, of course, of Bruce Springsteen – but you know that.  What could be more apropo for a day like today than those words – telling me that they will indeed pass me by if I don’t do whatever’s in my power to maximize each and every minute!

Among my favorite scenes from the movie, The Way We Were, are those when Hubbell and JJ do their little reminiscing game, pointing back and forth to each other and calling forth the “best” of one or another of their memories of favorite times and places of theirs – a poignant and so telling insight into the two characters’ psyches.  And so, today would be in that category for me in that little game, “best Sunday 2013?”  “June 9″……. (“losing someone like Katie, now that would be a loss”…….. such an under-rated movie, but I digress).

I am sitting outside in my outdoor office – it’s 6:46 and I am honestly wondering why it can’t be like this every day – at least from May 1 through October 31…….  But, whatever – right now, I’m just enjoying this:

   

  

Today’s one of those days when I happily jump out of bed and immediately I am thinking what should I do first today – read?  write?  take pics?  survey?  bake?  plant?

I’m at my table on the patio, coffee cup to the right, pile of magazines to the left.  Truth be told, this is one of my favorite times of day – before the sun comes up over the tree line – it’s bright and serene and peaceful, yet full of promise…..

What is it precisely about a Summer Day such as this that we yearn for?  This might give one or two clues – evoking the best memories of Summertime – for me?

• The smell of Coppertone,
• Summer Blonde (not for me),
• Beach Boys music,
• riding on the handlebars of Diane’s bike to Kay’s Bakery in Lavallette circa late 60s and early 70s for crumb buns
• sand in the bottom of my beach bag,
• a constant stream of days in flip flops and an old pair of shorts,
• outdoor showers
• sunburn,
• sun glasses,
• the bikini days (long gone),
• an old cape cod sweatshirt, worn and faded……
• grilled chicken, potato salad, lobster, corn and blueberry-peach pie
• s’mores, Campfire marshmallows, toasted on a stick over a charcoal (not gas) fire
• and especially, the days (evenings) we all piled into the Mary Anne’s Peugeot station wagon and drove to Truro, to Long Nook Beach, trudged down the dunes with a cooler, a hibachi, tons of food, a blueberry pie, and a wiffle ball and bat and stayed until we couldn’t stand the no-see-ums any longer …… just irreplaceable……  and it was before kids – you know, those days when you just felt free as a bird?  I’m not knocking the apres kids years – not a one,  but you know what I mean about those years…… Ahhhhhh

Ok, back to today and the magazine pile:

• Cook’s Illustrated:  featuring Classic Lobster Roll, best BBQ Chicken, Grilled Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Summer Berry Trifle, Original Pesto Pasta, and Best-Ever Kebabs
• Architectural Digest – The Allure of Summer
• Cooking Light – Best Summer Recipes
• America’s Test Kitchen – Best Baking Recipes – cover photo – lemon- blueberry muffins

And so today, I think I will begin my Summer-Recipe-Gathering – looking for and making some totally new recipes.

Yesterday was TGIS – Thank God It’s Sunny.  Today it’s TGTASTDTTSS – Thank God there are still 12 days till the summer solstice! (and then 3 months till the Autumnal Equinox)  Ok, you’ve had enough.  You get the point- I just want to hold onto this day, this weather, this time, this set of opportunities, this “to-do” list.   I’m getting busy!

   

is it wrong to morn the loss of rose petals? 

I planted these Endless Summers the spring that Ryan graduated from high school – now they are huge – they just love this spot on the north side of the house.  I will have to cut them back severely before next year.  Pruning time?  Anytime apparently.

  

  just a little different from Thursday’s shot.

  

Wishing everyone a “Glory Day” on this technically pre-Summer day – and Happy Birthday to Aunt Cindy!