The word hot doesn’t typically describe the start of summer in the Pacific Northwest, both weather-wise or especially if you’re a sports enthusiast. My husband lives and breathes sports, so in our house the calendar sometimes revolves around major sporting events and not the seasons. Now, I too enjoy sports, but my husband brings a whole new level of devotion to it, if you know what I mean.
June got a running start in above average seasonal temperatures, at times leaving some of us natives praying for gray skies (I didn’t think that was possible!). The irony is that the Pacific Northwest hosted its first PGA US Open at Chambers Bay in June. The spectacular tournament drew thousands of spectators from near and far, and the weather responded with endless sunshine and heat. It wasn’t hard to get drawn into the highlights and the nail-biting finish (I still cannot believe Dustin Johnson’s 3-put finish), while feeling a bit proud that this event was held in our backyard.
July started off with the same gusto. We had record-breaking temperatures and one of my favorite national holidays, the 4th of July. Having grown up in Seattle, the holiday is usually marked by dreary skies, coats and indoor barbecues. But this year we enjoyed high temperatures and clear skies. Our nearly 4-year old son took the reins and guided us after breakfast to a local beach for sandcastles. We cooled off in the afternoon before joining our friends for a backyard barbecue, complete with many boxes of Pop-It’s (remember those?), delicious food and drinks, and very patriotic jello shots. I couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of pride, not only for our country, but for those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom.
On the heels of this national celebration came another sort of national celebration with the FIFA Women’s World Cup. It may have occurred across the border, but Vancouver feels like our backyard. The excitement started early with a rematch of the 2011 Women’s World Cup between USA and Japan. The first sixteen minutes were some of the most exciting with Carli Lloyd’s hat trick. Japan gave a good fight to the finish, but our hometown hero Hope Solo and Team USA, claimed the title with pure skill and determination. They left it all on the field and I was proud of them.
August is shaping up to continue our warm trend. Regardless of the weather, the 12th Man in us all will bring the heat to CenturyLink for the upcoming Seahawks preseason. Let’s keep the summer rolling…
