Summer of Luck

Last night, it was so hot, I slept on top of all the covers and I still woke up in a pool of sweat.  Before that, I went to see this band at a venue that, I shit you not, was seriously the hottest place on earth, like, in the history of the whole world, to maybe 5000 BC.  Luckily, I found one spot in the joint under a fan in the corner of the basement, where if you sat perfectly still, your body temperature dropped to somewhere around 113.  So I sat there chomping on ice cubes and staring at these real corn-fed boys in ringer T's playing pool.
"They're like a big jungle gym," I whispered to my friend in awe, without taking my eyes off them.
"How so?" she asked.
"Just, you know, the way you could climb all over them and hang from their arms and shit."
"Oh, yeah, " she replied, "you're right.  Jungle gyms."
"You couldn't really talk to them, though...I mean, what would you talk about?"
"Who needs to talk?" she said, staring at them while grabbing ice chunks from my cup and rolling them all over her neck.
"No one," I said, letting the ice drip on my wrists,"I don't!"
"No talking," she said, as one of the corn-fed boys knocked a few balls into a couple different pockets with one fierce shot, and wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his big meaty hand.
"No talking." I concurred.

Later, I rode my bike the 5 miles home in what would be the coolest 30 minutes of my weekend.  I'd gone to the beach earlier the day and gotten my first burn of the season and as I lay in bed that night, on top of the covers, sweating my tits off, I contemplated calling some friends over to help put in my window units, but decided against it.

I need this -- this nose-dive into summer, the way it hangs in every corner of my life -- on my body, in my bed, on my bike, at the beach.  I don't want to be cooled down just yet.  I want to revel in the heat, in the sweat beads forming in every pore, and the toxins of cold months and past mistakes rolling off my back, ceaselessly, easily, seamlessly.  It's cleansing, really.

I've spent the weekend lounging in the sun, drinking margaritas and glasses of Reisling with friends, eating the best homemade red pepper hummus you can imagine and contemplating all the possibilities of summer.  This is my favorite time of year, the season I love Chicago the best and almost can't imagine a better city to be.  In the evenings I ride my bike along the lake front and still, even after 6 years here, I am in awe of the serenity of the lake against the backdrop of the twinkling skyline.  It's home to me.

This whole summer is a period of transition -- as I finish graduate school  (and my 20's!) and weigh all my different career options, start a few writing projects I'm really excited about, and learn to embrace my single status -- to enjoy this time I have for my friends and myself, because eventually my life will be filled with so much else and I might never again have a period of such self-focused time and energy. 

The other day I met Meg at the coffee shop and we wandered over to the park for a walk.  When we got there, I suggested we look for 4-leaf clovers.  I'd spent the day writing down my goals and shit because I read somewhere that the best way to gain focus and to manifest desires, is to write down what is you really want.  And out of character for me, I actually took this experiment seriously, and wrote down all my genuine goals and desires for my career and life for the next couple of years. 

So, at the park, I was feeling all open and optimistic and I suggested we look for 4-leaf clovers and I kneeled on the ground and immediately spotted one amidst thousands of 3-leafers, and no sooner did I pick it up and inspect it closely to determine its authenticity, I spotted another equally 4-leaved, equally authentic clover!  Two 4-leaf clovers in less than 1 minute!

Naturally, this means I'm going to have an awesome summer.  Didn't you know that's what 4-leaf clovers symbolize?  That and the promise of many mixed drinks.  And more corn-fed boys in ringer T's.

Comments

[ap]

There's nothing like summer outfits to make you feel like something has really and truly CHANGED. Life is easier with less clothing.

[teahouseblossom]

That's unbelievable! 2 four-leaf clovers in less than one minute??? What are the chances!!

It's going to be a GREAT summer for you..I just know it!

[Laura]

Yep, the summer heat has hit NYC too and my window unit has been working its ass off. I've only been to Chicago 3 times, but I did really like it...big cities are awesome in the summer. If you find another four leaf clover can that be symbolic of me having a great summer, umm maybe with a guy and a job in the future? thx!

[Kewith]

"sweating my tits off"

thank you for making my week.

[citywendy]

Ap: yep, everything is easier with less clothes!!

THB: Thanks, I hope you're right!! And I hope it's a great one for you, too!

Laura: If I find another 4-leafer, I'll make sure it means we both find dream jobs and dream boys.

Kewith: You're easy.

[tracey]

I love this post.