Summer is on my mind
I sit here in my office lucky enough to have a window looking out in to the trees overlooking parts of Red Square. It has been many months now of watching them sway with wind as the rain (or snow in some cases) pours through the openings. Every once in awhile when the sun peaks through the cloud cover it seems as if summer is here. The way the sun lights up my office for those few seconds. I sit here and picture the many summer afternoons spent on the field in front of the campus apartments throwing the football or playing a pick-up game of soccer, or just layin in the sun. I cant wait. When the sun finally does make it's way to this part of the Pacific Northwest the campus comes alive. All of the individuals who have been sheltering them selfs from the rain during the grey months find their way outside to take full advantage of the long days of sunlight. I like to think that the summer in the Northwest is second to none. Obviously this is a biased perspective considering I love this state that I was born and raised in. None the less, I have done my share of traveling throughout my young life and have yet to find a better country, state, city, or town, to spend the summer in. The summer days are a picture perfect 80-85 degrees, not humid or muggy, no need for air conditioning, no bugs (compared to the sticky south and many parts of the country), and yes, it is very green. All of the rain we get does serve a very important purpose in the health and beauty of this region and sustaining the very fragile eco-system that has taken shape over countless years.
Hopefully some of you all will experience what it is I am so anticipating. And what a better place to watch it all unfold than Evergreen. Of the thousand acres our campus encompasses, eight-hundred are untouched temperate rain forest, marshlands, organic farm land, and of course the "geo-duck beach" which is located on the southern most tip of Puget Sound. There are endless ways to spend a summer day here, from exploring the forest or beach on campus to walking around downtown Olympia, or planning a trip to Vancouver, or Seattle, or Portland. The list goes on and on. As if that wasn't enough, we are also located within an hour and a half of the Pacific Coast (on historic highway 101), the Hoh Rain Forest and National Park, also within two hours from Mt. Rainer, three from Mt. Baker, and not far from Mt. Hood either. So whether you want to be in the city or out into the wild ,you will be more than satisfied with all of the options a summer day presents you. When it comes around don't forget your sun block and remember to drink hella water so you can stay fresh. I cant wait to be rockin shorts again and bring out my summertime kicks. And as a matter of fact I think I might just play summertime (Will Smith), as we speak to provoke the sun to come out as soon as it possibly can and stay for as long as possible. Lets hope it works. Until we meet again. PEACE- J