July 24th was my father’s birthday and if he were still living, he would be 95 years old.  I call it the birthday season because for me it is.  My father led us off on the 24th of July, followed by my mother (who would be 97) on 8/2 and my brothers and I falling in between the 10th and the 20th of August.  We were, and still are, a pride of lions (Leos) clustered in the hottest part of the summer. With so many birthdays clustered together in one household, birthday time used to mean a month full of cake and, in our family, you got the joy of claiming the last piece of your own birthday cake.

I like acknowledging birthdays because it reminds me to consider how much better my life is because the birthday celebrant is a part of it. At the same time, it brings a twinge of sadness knowing that it signifies the winding down of summer, my favorite season, and the return to school during my adolescent years.  While I always looked forward to going back, I admit that it was mainly to wear some of the new clothes my parents had purchased for me.  I wish I could say it was for learning, but it was definitely the new clothes.

The heat and humidity that accompany the summer months just agreed with me and still does.  I always hated the loss of warm weather and am already starting to count the number of warm afternoons I have left.  The good news is that it hangs around for a good while in NC.

For my fellow Leos, happy birthday and for everyone else, enjoy the last bits of summer!

Dr. Lisa

Our theme song is “Summer Days” by the Partridge Family (C’mon, somebody remembers the Partridge family and David Cassidy – don’t leave me hangin’.  You remember…)