From various places across the country, news of mountain openings and beach openings arrive, and yesterday marked the grand procession of the Gion Festival yamaboko floats in Kyoto, signaling the true arrival of this year’s peak summer season. The summer vacation is just around the corner. Even though I’m at an age where summer vacation no longer applies to me, every year at this time, I can’t help but feel that excitement and thrill. The morning radio calisthenics start, and I wonder if I should keep an illustrated diary. There’s also the anticipation of finding new friends during the summer break. Many thoughts swirl in my head. I’ve already reverted to my childhood self. The memories of summer vacations from childhood are deeply etched in my mind. In the past, boys would run around all day with just their underwear and a running shirt, and by the end of the summer vacation, their faces and bodies would be completely sunburnt. The concept of heatstroke didn’t even exist, and I wonder if there were any kids with such symptoms back then.

全国のあちらこちらから、山開き、海開きの便りが届き、昨日は京都祇園祭りの山鉾巡行と、いよいよ今年の夏本番の到来です。夏休みも目の前。と言っても、この歳で夏休みがあるわけがありません。しかし、毎年この時分になるとそんな気分になり、気がワクワクするのです。朝のラジオ体操が始まるし、絵日記はつけないかんし、「夏休みの友」はあるし、いろんなことが頭を巡ります。もうすっかり子供に帰っています。それほど子供の頃の夏休みは記憶に深く残っているのです。昔は、男の子はパンツ一枚に、上はランニングシャツ一枚。そんな姿で、一日中、山や川を駆けづり回っているのですから、夏休みが終わる頃には顔も体も真っ黒けです。熱中症なんて言葉もなかったし、そんな症状の子なんていたのかなという感じです。