Wide Open

This July, I’m digging:

Sophie’s chubby legs, round and kissable, her skin sensitive like her mother’s but happiest barefoot anyway.

Dan’s magical summer-green mojitos… especially watching him smash the limes with sugar and mint freshly picked from our balcony. (But especially-especially drinking them…)

Wearing my favorite extra-long jeans with silver ballet flats, strappy black stilettos, and $1 Old Navy flip-flops in a row.

Free jazz, funk, and swing concerts downtown, turned up LOUD to fill the whole park with colorful instruments and spontaneous booty-shaking.

Perfectly still afternoon naps, the fan swirling sunbeams in lazy circles around the bedroom.

Discovering my super-hula hoop powers on Wii Fit (watch out, world!).

Dinner guests at last (after a long self-imposed hiatus) with easy conversation and easy smiles, kim-bab and chocolate stout cake and cold slurps of watermelon.

Pony tails every day, no apologies.

“Fitness” berry blend, a.k.a gorgeous purple juice infused with caffeine—my groovy summer alternative to coffee.

The Polyphonic Spree music videos radiating ridiculous, happy energy (check out “Lithium” if you’re a cheery type of Nirvana fan).

Nine (nine!) new flavors of Lip Smackers to be left in strategic spots around the house and loved to lip-smacking death by Natalie and me.

Wide open windows.