“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer.”

~ Nat King Cole

There is a time, just past the Fourth of July, when summer settles in; like it or not, often the weather extends into October. The heat this year got a head start as May and June had record-breaking temperatures (according to NWS meteorologists). Nat King Cole’s lyrics speak of another time … a time when life seemed simpler. Without a doubt, the past becomes romanticized but when this music was written there was not a pandemic. One word from the lyrics above defines summer 2020: crazy.

Often while out walking Brighton in the cooler evening hours, there are families out and about as well. Last chance for kids and dogs to work off boundless energy! But lives have been turned upside-down. Normally, summer is filled with day camps, vacations, lots of playdates, trips to the library, swim lessons and visits with extended family. Now what? The question is asked by the young people and somehow an answer is expected from “the adults;” i.e., parents and grandparents. Here’s to those unsung heroes!

Outside and summer play equipment has long sold out. Though there are wonderful virtual activities they add to computer time. The weather-watcher component in me got to thinking … Turn the kids loose observing weather. National Weather Service: watch out!

There are many good websites; this one – www.weather.gov/learning is a NWS one. Besides information, it offers activities. Want to keep it simple? All you need is a thermometer, a plastic rain gauge (Amazon and Ace) and a weather log (Pinterest has printable). Just an idea; hope it helps.

A hot weekend is predicted then coastal fog brings cooling to start the week.

Until next week, “Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer.”

Sue Kilpatrick is a Crescenta Valley
resident and Official Skywarn Spotter for the
National Weather Service Reach her at suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.