Summer was slow arriving, but that's because spring came slowly and, for a change, stayed longer than usual.  It's customary for wind and rain to come just as the spring flowers, in the company of blooming shrubs and trees, are at their peak.  This year the rains came early and were gentle throughout the blooming season.  I don't recall a recent year in which tree limbs and shrubs were covered in a cacophany of color.  We were fortunate enough to benefit from weeks of balmy weather and beautiful blooms.

Late in May, the Klingston pool was prepared for summer.  Once the water level was reached and the proper chemicals added, Brandon begged, then pleaded and begged some more to be allowed in the water.  He was told repeatedly that the water was still too chilly to be enjoyable, but he didn't listen.  Rather than continue trying to convince him of the inadvisability of getting into the water, Dawn and Matt gave him the go-ahead to get his swimsuit on.  He and Sophia were upstairs and back quickly, and Brandon leapt into the water.  And before his feet had time to touch the bottom of the pool, he shot to the top, his face looking like that of Munch's The Scream.  Fortunately Sophia had been far enough behind Brandon that she rethought jumping in when she saw his reaction.  Since, then, however, the water's reached a comfortable temperature, and hours are spent playing in it.