I’m going to be honest and say that summer is the worst season. I get that there are people who love summer and by being contrary I’m putting myself in the crosshairs, but someone has to say it. There are some redeeming qualities to this hot season but to me, the flaws outweigh the positives.
Let’s start with the fact that it’s hot. It wouldn’t be so bad if temperatures stayed relatively the same, but climate change is real and our weather is changing as a result. Every summer the temperatures have been unbearable.
I don’t like that triple-digit temperatures are the norm now.
The asphalt gets so hot that my dog requires shoes, and parking my car outside creates the hottest sauna ever. I once left a plastic cup in my car while running an errand and when I came back, it had melted into my cupholder.
I understand some people have a preference for beautiful sunny days, but they aren’t just limited to summer. You can get beautiful sunny days in spring or fall — and even in winter.
The best part is that you don’t have to deal with the high humidity and temperatures.
These temps should not be normal and I worry about the health of people who cannot escape the sun.
It’s not safe to be exposed to the sun for long and the risk of melanoma increases during summer. Sunscreen is no longer optional and if you plan on being out, don’t skip out on applying it to protect your skin.
What scares me the most about the hot temperatures, though, are the constant wildfires that occur during this season.
In my neighborhood, there is an abundance of dry grass that is perfect for starting fires. It’s a fear I don’t look forward to and I’m worried that with each passing summer, my neighborhood gets put on the chopping block.
Summer is also the prime time for bugs to breed and thrive because of the warmer temperatures and increase in food availability.
Mosquitoes are the worst offenders and it’s a double-edged sword when trying to air out my house — I can leave my window open for a nice breeze and mosquitoes, or I can keep them closed and trap heat.
All of these point me to being summer’s biggest hater, but in truth, I wasn’t always like this. I remember when I wished this season would last forever when I was full of energy and ready to pack my days full of activities with friends. Things just aren’t the same anymore and I hold some resentment about that.
As kids, we were able to shelve our responsibilities for a couple of months and do what we wanted. It felt like a reward for having endured the school year.
As adults, we can’t just push responsibilities away that long without suffering some consequences. We don’t get to pull all-nighters for fun, we do it because we’re behind a deadline now. Our academic year gets replaced with a work year and we prefer to get a full night’s sleep whenever possible.
Our priorities have changed, and as a result, summer lost the magic it had for me. I prefer staying home now and I like the colder weather.
I used to hate rain but now I love it because the grass and trees get watered and leave a smell that triggers a feeling of nostalgia.
Although I spent the majority of this column writing about how summer sucks, there are aspects of the season that I do enjoy.
I love that places like parks and neighborhoods become more active, that my plants are blooming and starting to bear fruit, and how the sunshine has a positive effect on our mental health.
However, if you had me choose between feeling swampy 12 hours a day or shaking like a leaf, I’d gladly put up with my teeth chattering.
