By Barbara Jorgen Nance
Today I'll carry the bouquet of 10 promises and marry the summer sun again. We'll live happily ever after all summer! Promise #1. We'll walk down the aisle bathed in glorious light, so we can see all the mosquitos and gnats we're swatting. My bouquet of promises will burst in full bloom, attracting only a few bees. Singing birds will fly ahead of us, sprinkling our path with fragrant flower petals. The heavens will bless our unity. Promise #2.
We'll sit together on the desert hillside and watch the day unfold. Cactus blooms abound. They stole the color of the sun, but he doesn't seem bothered, but rather flattered. He's a gentleman and willing to share his golden color. As the sun sets, he flings rich color across the horizon. Promise #3.
The scent of my bride's bouquet is so overwhelmingly strong, I could just faint. Instead I feel fed with an inner strength and blooming. Promise #4. What more could a girl ask for? I'll have the company of a true gentleman all summer. Someone who treasures and appreciates me. Summer tells me in his manly voice that he will keep all his promises. Promise #5.
The days pass by slowly during this time of year. The bouquet is meant to be savored. The clouds are drifting overhead. They don't adhere to laws of gravity or any other laws for that matter. Clouds are just drifters by nature. Promise #6. Clouds will bring us summer showers, but they have to be in the mood to do so. At times they drift on the wild side, showing off with thunder and lightning. Promise #7.
Summer birds will sing to everyone's delight just for the sake of singing. Bob Dylan was quoted in The Essential Interviews as saying "Anything worth thinking about is worth singing about." Shouldn't we all be drenched in such enthusiasm? Remember, this isn't just my story, it's your story as well. Promise # 8.
Every day comes to a close. The curtain of night will fall. Our dreams will be filled with every imaginable gift, and we will wake up refreshed and ready for a new day. Promise #9. Just as inevitable as night and day, summer will disappear and leave us behind. My bouquet will wilt and delicate petals will fall to the hard ground. The chill of the fall breeze will put its cape around my shoulders once more and remind me that he has returned. Knowing my fickle self as I do, I'll fall in love with fall once again. Promise #10.