Glorious August

Can you believe August is here already? Summer is winding down and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop the progression of time. There are, however, a few things we can do to make the most of one of the most enjoyable seasons. Here are a few suggestions:

Take a walk on a starry night with someone you care about. Listen to the night sounds and revel in the magic of summer. Be excited that you're not freezing your tushy off.

Catch some fireflies (lightning bugs) or butterflies. Don't kill them, simply enjoy their beauty and let them go. A note of caution, you might want to enjoy them at a distance. When you look at butterflies up close, you realize just how buggy they really are. Ugh.

It's fair time (somewhere). Try to find a local fair or festival. Eat a corn dog and get your fingers all sticky with some cotton candy. County fairs typically have animals of all sorts where you can get up close and personal. Pet a lamb, get face-to-face with an alpaca, and watch a pig race. Ahh...this just screams summer!

Walk barefoot in the grass (be careful if you have dogs!). Better yet, put on some music and dance barefoot in the grass.

Go fishing. Admittedly I have NEVER caught a fish, but it's still a lot of fun trying. Pack a picnic lunch and make a fun event out of it.

Start a summer romance. It's not too late. If you're already in a relationship, infuse some summer romantic fun into that relationship. If you're not currently involved, throw caution to the warm summer wind and ask that guy/girl out for ice cream, dinner on a restaurant's patio, or maybe even fishing!

Go to an outdoor concert. Most communities have free or low cost outdoor concerts featuring local or national talent. All you need is a lawn chair (or blanket) and a genuine appreciation of good music. Hint: By most accounts, this would be considered a romantic date.

If you're lucky enough to have a drive-in near you (http://www.driveintheater.com/drivlist.htm

), pack up the car and get ready for a double feature. Can you believe there are only 357 of these gems left in the United States? Take advantage of them before they're all gone. And don't forget to clean your windshield.

If you like summer flowers, find an open field and pick a bunch to take home. Don't trespass! Remember to shake the bugs off before bringing your flowers indoors or you'll be bringing in more summer than you intended.

Kick back on your porch, or at the park with a good book. There is absolutely nothing I can add to this to make it sound more glamorous or fun. Reading contains its own magic.

Go someplace where children are playing (park, spray ground, etc.) and watch how happy they are simply playing. Nothing epitomizes summer like the energy of children playing and hearing their laughter carried through the wind. Note: Don't be creepy. If parents and nannies begin mean mugging you, leave!

Enjoy the remainder of your summer and make every humid, star-filled, sun-drenched moment count!