Summer Withdrawals

Hello. My name is Erik Olsen, and I am a summer addict.

I guess I would say that my addiction to summer vacation began whenever the distinction between work and play began to define me. School became something more than just what I had to do before I put on my play clothes and ran into the neighborhood off to some grand adventure involving a football or plastic sword. School became something that I had to put time into, effort into, and eventually, my all into. It slowly but surely became the thing that consumed my life, Monday through Friday for nine months a year.

But I couldn't do that; not without losing my sanity. So I found an out. A way to find pure happiness and freedom, packed into the time not adulterated by the bores and fears and frustrations and anxieties of getting an education. Those beautiful, pure and free months of the summer became the only thing that tethered me to a place that most would call sanity during the year long battle with reality.

In its time, summer is what loosens chains of doubt and worry allowing me to be free as the waves rolling onto the beach that I love. But I know that level of freedom cannot possibly be permanent, and that responsibilities call me the remainder of the year. But if responsibilities call out to me during the year, then summer shouts. Screams at the top of its lungs the memories and images of a splashing pool, of crashing waves, of floating down a cool river on a hot day, of running in the night-time rain, of a friend long gone. These memories constantly bombard me, distract me from what should be done. What needs to be done. I need to get on with my year, banish summer as a distant memory and far hope for the future. But you and I both know I can't.

I'm sure some symptoms of my addiction are evident to you, my summer attire in October first and foremost among them. But it goes deeper than that. Something about me needs and loves summer. So letting go ever year is a challenge for me that ends up with lots of day dreaming and reminiscing.

But maybe this year can be different. Maybe I will find the way out my addiction to summer and learn to live in the moment day by day. To learn to find happiness in all circumstances, even when I am not completely free.

But then again, summer is only 217 days away. Right around the corner I guess.