Cherry soda wit' chocolate ice cream

Freedom and solitude. The two best things summer has to offer. Done with the perpetual, looming stress that comes with school and ready for joyful, inconsequential time spent lolling around underneath the sun and in the breeze. I know I’ll never rid myself of the lingering stress of school starting up again but I know what will dampen the fear. I’m finally sixteen with a license, and my plans for this summer consist of drives to the river, strolling around local towns, and whatever adventures I can find. 

I have long craved the romanticized, Americana, coming-of-age summer portrayed on television. I need that sense of importance, and belonging that you see the young actors and actresses feeling in American Graffiti and Grease. In a perfect world I could drive in my red vintage Chevy convertible to the local diner for milkshakes with my friends and catch a film at the drive-in theater. I’ve never been to a drive-in theater, I’ll have to add that to the summer bucket list.

I can’t time travel to the ‘50s but I know this summer I want to wake up at the crack of dawn, not because I need to get to school but because I wanna watch the sun rise. I want to hear mourning doves at daybreak and peepers in the evening. I want to pack fresh fruit for an outing to the beach. I want to swim all day long. I want to lie in the yard and finally pick up a book again. And most of all, I want a tan.