This summer, I became my father.
No, not the guy grilling at the BBQ, spatula in one hand, stubby of Labatt’s IPA in the other.
Instead, the guy walking around the house during the heat wave, with A/C churning 24/7, turning off the lights in rooms where nobody is, grumbling “Dammit, electricity doesn’t grow on trees. It ain’t free”. (Well, at least they’re no longer incandescents pumping out heat and light!)
Mom used to say “Be careful. We become the things we mock the most”. She was right.
But there’s another way I’m like Dad — the summer slowdown.
Dad owned a full service car wash and gas station at Front & George Streets in Toronto, within spitting distance of the St. Lawrence Market and Flatiron building. (It’s a condo now — the car wash that is. )
I worked for him for a few years during high school and right after university.
Summertime was the slow season, and we were able to take it a bit easier.
That’s me too, now.
We’ve all seen all sorts of the bro emails or postings “Hey it’s summer. Don’t let up! Review the first six months now! Plan for the second half! Don’t waste time. Keep on hustling”.
If that’s your thing, cool. If summertime is your busy season (oh, like you’re a DJ specializing in weddings, like one of my clients), go for it.
But for the rest of us — in this part of North America — summer is too damn’ short to waste. I’m convinced that nobody in this part of Ontario makes a decision in July or August.
So I slow down in the summertime. I take more breaks during the day — you’ll find me outside, sitting in the sun in my “thinking chair”, coffee or some other beverage in hand. This year (summer of 2025), I’m taking even more breaks; I had surgery in June (nothing major) and I’ve been taking my time getting back to normal. (My brain kept thinking I’m 20 and that I’ll bounce back in a week; then my body slammed my brain and said “Idiot. You’re 67.”)
So what’s your summer plan? Chilling? Vacating? Or business as usual?
Love to hear from you! Copy and paste the line below, hit reply (lfox©accounting-wizard•com) and say:
“Hey Lawrence, this is what I’m up to for the rest of the summer….”
PS All the em dashes in this email were inserted by me. No AI. But that’s a conversation for another day.
PPS: OK, one mid-year update (summer 2025). I was convinced that the Blue Jays were going to be a last-place team this year. I am pleasantly shocked that they were in first place as of the All Star break and that they’re still there now. Go Jays Go!
