A Few Good Things About Summer
Most of you already know that I detest summer. I hate heat. I hate humidity. I hate flip-flops (mostly out of jealousy because I can’t wear them since I find them uncomfortable).
But there are a handful of good things I associate with summer:
1 – Provincetown. I like to make a few pilgrimages every summer and I’m hoping my first of the season will be next weekend. As long as my guesthouse has an air-conditioner in the window, I’m fine. I love the people watching on the beach, I love the vitalitity of the street scene, I love the nightly cabaret shows, I love the architecture and seascapes.
2 – Big Brother! Last night was the season premiere. This year, the 7th, is an “all-star” season. I must admit I was a bit disappointed at who the public (and producers) voted in. I mean, come on. Allison? Mike “Boogie”? Jase? ugh. At least Kaysar, Will, and Janelle will make things interestings. But, dammit, I wanted Bunky back in there.
3 – Fruit. I love going to my neighborhood produce stand and getting cheap strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. Last summer they had quarts for $1.50…and one time when I went they were two-for-one! It beats off-season prices of $4.99 for only a pint.
4 – North End Feasts! It’s an Italian tradition to have feasts nearly every weekend during summer. The first big one (that I can tell…unless I missed some while in Europe) takes place this Sunday a block from my apartment. Nothing says summer like thousands of Italians filling the streets, selling unhealthy sausages and pastries, stringing lights from building to building, and pinning dollar bills to tacky religious statues.
And that, folks, is how I spent my summer vacation.
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1. I wish I had time to go there more. 🙁 2. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a whole episode of Big Brother. 3) I LOVE getting fresh everything during the summer — I LOVE going to farm stands, etc. 4) Italian food — Italian men — YUMMM!
Summer is my least favorite season, too. Except for the chance to garden, I much prefer fall, spring and winter in that order.
Fritz and I will be in Provincetown this coming week–my first visit there in about six years.
OOOH – Will! Maybe we’ll run into you guys (or, we could plan to run into you). Where are you staying?
I, too, love the North End religious festivals. The festivals make me feel like I’ve left the city and been transported to Europe. Have you ever seen the very good film about the North End called “The Blinking Madonna and Other Miracles”? It was made by Beth Harrington while she was living there. It is a real valentine to the neighborhood and really well done. Check it out!
We’re in Eastham very close to the ocean. We’ll go up to P’town on a good weather day, which now looks like it would be either Monday or Tuesday unless the long range report has changed. We move into the cottage Sunday evening. I’ll email you phone numbers. Getting together would be a lot of fun.
Oops–your phone is unlisted, and your email link isn’t here anymore–can you get in touch with me by email today or before noon tomorrow about how to contact you? Or look me up in the Boston phone book.
Yes, the feasts of the North End are an annual tradition for my family and many other Italian-American families in the Boston area, especially for those of us whose parents and grandparents and great-grandparents came from the old country, where it originated. Please don’t call the statues tacky- that is very insulting. most of those beautiful North End statues were made over 100 YEARS AGO by the founders of the various societies with love and devotion, statues that we still kiss and make the sign of the cross in front of when we see them pass us in the street…
Good point. The statues themselves aren’t tacky. But you must admit the stages and platforms they place them on (painted in red and white with faux-gold) are pretty outrageous!