This time of year, I get the same kind of restlessness as kids do. I catch my eyes wandering outside and dreaming of lying in the grass with a book. Believe it or not, I didn’t always have this longing for summer. I really didn’t want to get out of school. (All the kids say "What?") I grew up in Hardwick and summer vacation often meant not being able to see my friends for three months. We didn’t have chat rooms, cell phones or video conferencing. We had summer recreation, the bookmobile, softball games and our bikes. More or less it was very boring. On occasion I might run into pals as rivals in a softball game or the occasional trip to Pamida and end the summer lull with a bang by spending a week at the fair. It enhanced the excitement of going back to school because I could finally see those faces I missed all summer long.I no longer feel that way. I love summer. This is the time when I get to hang out with kids just about every day and do all sorts of things: hiking, painting, swimming, giggling, singing, watching movies, dancing, biking and reading. I love summer now because of the Summer Reading Program. It’s a free program that allows kids to have lots to do in the summer and keeps them reading. The program is for kids in first through sixth grade. The theme is "Track it down at your library" and I can’t imagine a better way to spend the summer. If you know a child and don’t want to risk them being bored this summer stop by the library June 7 through June 12 and register for the summer reading program. Come track it down at the library, you’ll never be bored again.
