Signs of summer

It's a time for picnics, bike rides, swimming parties and chasing fireflies. Summer means different things to different people, but everyone seems to agree that it's a season to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Summer officially began Saturday, according to the calendar, but many people know summer by its flurry of activity.

Six-year-old Neal Brown, who was in Cape Girardeau from Texas visiting relatives, has already finished his baseball season but thinks that swimming is perhaps the best summer activity.

His aunt, Pam Brown, of Amarillo, Texas, thinks Memorial Day weekend signifies the beginning of summer.

Rosena Willard, who grew up near Egypt Mills, recalls long walks in the fields with her sister and wading in the creek to cool off on hot days during the summer.

"I still love summer," she said. "It's so easy to sit outside and enjoy the breeze and watch the squirrels and rabbits."

You can always tell summer whenever the breeze gets warm and the air smells fresh and people start gathering outdoors at parks, said Cody Roberts.

Fishing is one of his favorite summer activities.

Oneida Coleman, 79, has spent decades of summers fishing in the lagoon at Capaha Park. She's been fishing there since she was 8.

"I love to fish," she said. "My mother and father used to take me fishing."

Summer days when the weather is just right -- not too hot and not too much rain -- are really the best, she said. "That's when you can just enjoy yourself."

And that's exactly what Madeline Godwin did as a child, because she knew summertime was for swimming.

"Swimming was a top priority," she said. The 92-year-old recalls walking nearly 2 miles from her family's home to Capaha Pool, where she'd often get swimming tips from the lifeguard, Mr. Stacy.

"If he saw you trying to swim, he'd give you suggestions, and if Mr. Stacy told you, then you really tried it," Godwin said. "We all admired him and thought he was marvelous."

And she learned to swim during those summer trips to the pool.

Virginia Seabaugh also recalls summer swimming parties at her home. Every family picnic or reunion ended up in her back yard, regardless of the appointed meeting place, she said.

"We had parties all the time," she said.

Picnics with family, cookouts and sleep-overs are what make summertime fun, said Tonia Brown.

Brown, 23, usually watches several children while their parents work and just gathers up the neighborhood for games of dodge ball, kickball or tag.

"We just plan a lot of activities outdoors, whether we barbecue or plan a picnic," she said. "I usually have a houseful of kids so anything that can be outside and keeps them out of trouble and occupied" is great.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126