Summer's Unofficial Start

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us.  I have heard repeated over and over by the weathermen that this marks the unofficial start of summer.  I'm tired of hearing that.  We live in northern Minnesota, if summer didn't start until the summer solstice on June 21st we'd miss a lot of summer days.  Summer may not technically end until September 22nd, but our northern Minnesota days and nights can get pretty chilly by then.  So, can we get the date of summer officially changed? 

 
What happens on the unofficial start of summer?  Here's a clue: grocery stores have hot dogs, buns, chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers on sale.  Home improvement stores have lawn furniture and gardening supplies on sale.  Sporting goods stores have tents and sleeping bags on sale.  You guessed it; it's outside time! 


Being that I live in northern Minnesota, I don't feel the need to get out to the campsite or lake this long weekend.  We don't live that far, so we can go any time.  Which is good, because this is the weekend that those in the metro area flock to the great outdoors.  I'll let them have this weekend and go camping when the rush has died down a bit.  I'm more of a fair weather camper anyway.  My parents went camping last weekend, and we went out and visited them for a day.  I was happy to get home that evening and sleep in my own bed instead of having to sleep under the rain clouds. 


I can wait until the official start of summer ends before I spend a weekend in the great outdoors.  After looking for pictures to go along with this posting, I don't think I can wait that long for a s'more.  It's currently pouring rain outside, so I'm not going to be able to make a fire and make an offical s'more this evening.  I suppose an unofficial one will have to do.  Just like the start of summer.


Now pass the marshmallows.