June is a gorgeous month. The days are the longest they are going to be and the weather is typically ideal. It is the month I was born in, the month my daughter was born in, the month I got married in, the month of our graduations, and the month when school vacation for our kids usually begins here in the city.
June smells good. It has the wonderful aroma of fresh flowers, clear skies, street fairs and barbecues. The strawberries are in and so are the blueberries, and the greenmarkets all over the city are lively with great produce and the early summer fruits and vegetables. How lucky we all are that our neighboring farmers are bringing their goods into so many communities throughout NYC. What a great partnership it is and how beneficial it is for all of us, farmers and city-dwellers alike.
Day camps are starting up and the kids are busy doing all the great things of summer: swimming, cycling, tennis, skateboarding, and just being outdoors a lot. The playgrounds are full and the swings are flying high. That’s the best part of June, it’s not too hot and not too cold and it’s easy to be just hanging out. The beaches are open and the parks are welcoming the throngs of families who have made it through the long winter and are relishing the picnics, parties and cookout opportunities. I smell grilling on my block almost every night and I’m certain it’s in everyone else’s neighborhood also.
I like June as a vacation month and lately we’ve been choosing to travel as soon as my daughter’s classes are over. It’s a good time for this and we relish the change of scenery and pace. The rates are lower and everything is less crowded than it is later on in the summer. We appreciate the long hours of daylight and get the most out of the possibilities. I also like coming back to a full summer of beach-going, and I’m an avid fan of our local beaches.
I don’t know what your summer plans are, but I know that a lot of people are sticking closer to home than they have in the past. Many people are watching their pockets carefully and are cautious in their expenditures, waiting to see how this economy will play out and when the recovery will really begin.
Maybe you have a recent graduate or a wedding in your family, or maybe, like us, a family loaded with birthdays. June is a special month to celebrate, and speaking of celebrations, happy Father’s Day to all our dads! So many excuses and reasons to have a party this month and I hope all of them will turn out to be loads of fun.
Thanks for reading. Have a great month.
