Summers are short in Chicago, so we who live here learn to enjoy them while we can. The things I enjoy most about summer are not momentous or expensive, but little daily delights and experiences that make me thankful to be alive. Here are some of my favorite simple summer pleasures.
Free concerts in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Chicago occasionally gets things really right. Last night Dan and I took the train into the city, walked a twenty-minute trek to Millennium Park, parked our portable chairs in the grass, watched people fill up the park and listened to the music of Glen Hansard under a soft blue sky dusted with a few clouds and scraped by tall buildings.
Our once a year crab cakes. Dan loves crab cakes, so every year on Father’s Day I order some from a restaurant in Baltimore. Since we only do that on Father’s Day it has become a summer treat. With all due respect to Chicago’s excellent restaurants, we have yet to find one that even comes close to Maryland crab cakes. Yum.
Our once a year gyros. The Greek Orthodox Church just north of our neighborhood puts on a Greekfest every year, usually the last weekend of June. Kids jump in inflatable playgrounds while adults jump to music and sample Greek goodies. In a stroke of genius, they organized a drive through lane in which friendly people took our order, correctly pronouncing the menu items that we massacred, and then new friendly faces delivered take-out containers of generous gyros. Really generous and tasty gyros. Yum again.
The sound of lawnmowers, the smell of cut grass and the sleep-inducing drone of baseball games on television.
Bike rides.
Vacations.
Going for a run/walk first thing in the morning and then sitting on the deck with my Bible, journal and a cup of tea.
Flip Flops.
An always energizing yearly reunion with college roommates.
Red convertibles.
Last night at the concert, an elderly gentleman started dancing along the railings a
t the back of the pavilion. The audience cheered. A young woman dazzled us with her hula-hoop skills. A couple was dancing in their little patch of grass and a man held a toddler up to see the stage.
Sometimes I feel like this little toddler, lifted up on the arms of my Father to get a good look at the stage of life. The look I got last night was of all kinds of people cheerfully enjoying a beautiful summer night, good music, and each other. I had an excellent view.
What are some of your simple summer pleasures?
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 100:1
Connecting Dots...to God 
I love flip flops and pedicures with pink polish! We also love to sit on the deck in the evening with a glass of chardonnay and listen to the sounds of the neighborhood…kids, birds, lawnmowers and the occasional dog. Now that we’re a bit farther away, we won’t be attending concerts at Ravina as often but we are planning on going to the Chicago concert there in August. The first sign of summer is always the large wave petunia basket my husband gets me for Mother’s Day. Because of our move, we were a little late with that this year but it is now hanging beautifully on our deck. Summer is here!
Judy, What a great post – I could almost feel myself with you at the concert – What I enjoy most is just the slower pace summer brings to my otherwise CRAZY schedule. I enjoy my coffee on the patio, reading, watching my flowers grow, and just closing my eyes to feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I love having the chance to decide what I want to do or need to do instead of the job dictating my day. Flip flops, shorts, gatherings with friends – they just seem so different in the summer!!
Walking and talking to God, neighborhood BBQs, lemonade…all wonderful! Thanks for sharing Linda and Becky.
I love this post, Judy! And I love the picture of being lifted up on our Father’s shoulders to see things from His view. Some of my summer favorites: the smell of barbeque in my neighborhood, biking everywhere, eating dinner out on the patio, and making fresh-sqeezed lemonade : ) Or my favorite so far, seeing my 12-year-old daughter be baptized last weekend under a glorious blue sky.
Judy, your description of your evening is so refreshing… I join you in taking pleasure in His provisions for my summer “re-creation!” The simplest thing that I have had so much joy in participating in is walking. The Lord meets me each time I venture out…He guides my conversation either with the company I have through the person next to me or across the miles on the phone… but most importantly through the conversation I have with Him. It is definitely the highlight of my day. Hope your days continue to be filled with the pleasures of not only what He has for you but of Him as well!