By By Adrienne McKenzie
Since I am from the South, I know exactly how the weather down here works. It gets slightly cooler, meaning in the 50s and 60s, for a few months. And it only gets downright cold for a few days. That is what we like to call winter. The rest of the year is full of delightful sunshine and warmth.
The time of year has come when the brief period of cool weather is leaving and scorching hot days are arriving.
Spring – I'm not really sure what to think of it. It is supposed to be the transition from cold to warm weather but it seems to me that there is no transition, it goes straight from 50 degrees to 80 degrees within an hour's time.
I think the South gets skipped over by spring altogether and gets hit full-blown by summer. Just looking at the weather forecast for today, the high is 82 degrees. If that is what defines spring, I wonder what kind of heat the summer is going to bring in.
Don't get me wrong, I really love summer. I enjoy being outdoors. I like taking walks outside, going to water parks and shopping at outlet malls. All of these things are not so pleasant when it gets cooler than about 70 degrees outside.
My favorite place to go when it gets warm is the beach. I love the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area and I intend on frequenting the southern part of Alabama every chance I can for some fun in the sun this summer.
When in Gulf Shores, I enjoy going to The Track Family Recreation Center to ride go-carts and bumper boats. And, Pirates Island Adventure in Orange Beach is a great place to play putt-putt golf.
Even if I weren't living in Atmore, so close to the coast, I'd find something to do outside during the summer. I find it important to do something other than sitting on the couch eating Doritos(r), drinking sodas and watching TV. It is a lot more fun to get outside and be active.
During the two years that I lived in Tuscaloosa I often visited the University of Alabama Student Recreation Center pool. Since I worked at the recreation center, it was convenient to get off work and go immediately down to the pool area for some rays. My favorite part about the recreation center's pool were the lazy river and huge slide. Many of my summer days were spent at the pool with my buddies taking in the sun and floating around in the inner tubes.
I also like summer because of the opportunities for children to get outside and play. It is important for them to learn at an early age the value of getting outdoors and living life to the fullest. It is not healthy for them to spend all of their time inside playing video games, watching DVDs and eating junk food.
Since I don't live in Tuscaloosa anymore and since I cannot go to Gulf Shores every day, I will have to find things to do in Atmore that are outside events. I just moved into the town this past weekend so I am not certain of all the things to do yet. However, I have eaten lunch before in Tom Byrne Park, which was a beautiful place to sit and relax during my lunch break.
Also, there are events throughout the summer that should fill my need to stay busy. I think that Mayfest will be a good time, especially with the Mayfest Idol competition. The Centennial event will also be an excellent source of entertainment. I look forward to the horse-drawn carriage ride with the narrator explaining the history of Atmore. The First National Bank &Trust Centennial Costume Contest should also be pleasing with the costumes from the early 1900s.
There are a ton of things to do indoors during the winter, but most of those things are not as pleasurable as getting out during the summer, going to special outdoor events, running around in the sun and just having a good time!
Adrienne McKenzie is a reporter for the Atmore Advance. She can be reached at 368-2123.