When I pick up Wave from school it’s hot. Actually 84 degrees according to my car’s temperature. He comes walking out in his down jacket, zipped all the way up, and a sweatshirt and a short underneath! I quickly help him lose the hot clothes. We’re talking Farm Pond weather. He’s eager to go. So we dash home for our bathing suits, and at the pond play our game: rotten egg. Which just means we both run as fast as we can across the beach and dive into the water. Which I do, head first into the foliage colored water. He doesn’t submerge. But he’s in, and happy. It’s a spectacular day. All blue sky and calm water. A few others there. We make sandcastles and he crushes sandcastles. He is very sad that our time at the beach is shorter than summer. And why will it take so long for summer to come again? There is snow to look forward to, I say. But he doesn’t want to be cold. And he says he doesn’t know how to make snowballs. Of course he knows, but I explain it anyway. It will be easy with his two hands. I am tired. I don’t feel like making dinner. But I summon the energy and make everyone’s favorite chicken. And it’s well worth it. For the first time, Wave sets the table and runs in to get me to come see. He is cheerful as heck all dinner. And everyone comes to the table, eager for dinner. Wave eats and talks heartily. We all do.