Rules for making the most of summer

   I love summer the way I did when I was a kid. Some sports fans can't stand it because there are no football or basketball games on their television sets. To me summer implies freedom. Life isn't nearly as regimented as it is in the fall and winter. There are fewer rules.

   But there are rules. Here are five:

(1) Slow down.

   There are more kids on the streets, on bicycles, scooters and on foot. To exceed the speed limit on a residential street, or to go tearing through a parking lot, is to be a fool.

   And if you park next to the curb at, say, Harris-Teeter, you impair visibility for other drivers. If you're that lazy, stay home.

(2) Go outside.

   I know it's hot. So walk, run, get on a bike, hit a tennis ball or jump in a pool. Move. If you leave your house, even if it's to walk to your car, you're going to sweat. You might as well earn it.

(3) Don't turn on your lawn mower at 7:30 a.m., especially on a Saturday or a Sunday.

    There's not a piece of grass on earth that needs to be cut so desperately. Your neighbors will think less of you, although if you're the kind of guy that cuts his lawn before 8 a.m. on a weekend, they probably don't like you anyway.

(4) Despite gas prices, some people will hit the road. Get out of their way.

    I'm talking about freeways. If you force another driver to go to the middle or right lane to pass you, you create danger where it doesn't need to exist. The left lane is for faster traffic. If you're impeding the speed of the driver behind you, you're not faster traffic.

(5) Relax.

    Breathe deep. Linger. Laugh. Do things you wouldn't customarily do.

    If you're a hard-core sports fan that needs others to perform, you're missing the point. I'm not sure why we were put on the planet, but it wasn't to watch.

Comments

[Rusty Currie]

Tom, I agree with this so much!!!! Enjoy your summer!

[Nate]

I understand your constant complaint about the left lane. That said, I drive I-85 daily and only use the left lane to pass. If I am in the other lanes, however, and someone tailgates you can bet I will go exactly the speed limit. If you are talking on your phone and won't pass because you're not able to devote enough attention to your driving to know if the left lane is clear, you can bet I'll slow down to less than the speed limit.

[joe]

No lawnmowers or leaf blowers before 1pm or after 5pm on Sunday.

Saturday....all day is fair game, adults wake up before 7:30am Tom. If they don't...they should, same with kids.

[Duffy]

Thanks for the sound advice Tom.

[Marisha]

Calihi27..definitely a lovely pcutire..@chantalco..ita..ROB and Kristen..side by side,with not an inch between them..AHHH..love ..love..was in the air on that NYE IN IOW!!hi to my favs!mrs.deen and papagaj..hope you're both ok happy new year to both of you!..i know the others are fine..!