Come every August 1 I’m reminded how short backwards misaligned our sweet little Southern summer really is. Kids in the North are gearing up for session two of camp. Delighted psychoanalysts everywhere are taking their monthly leave of absence to ‘summer’ in the Hamptons, the Cape or any other place that has “The” in front of it, leaving patients to self medicate and lie on their own couches. Kids out West are jumping in sprinklers, collecting fireflies and sleeping late.

And here, in the sunny and oppressively humid South, we are buying number two pencils, spiral notebooks and new lunch boxes. We are getting schedules and school lists and memos and emails about wrapping paper and PTO coffees and delete, delete, delete!!!  I can’t stand it!! I’m just not ready, okay??

Even though I’ve done my fair share of homework, elementary school stresses me out. I don’t understand the math, three-sided poster board displays aren’t really my thing, and I’m not organized enough to make lunches at night. Who cares that we get out for summer in May! That makes no sense either! Nothing makes sense about this schedule!

Oooh…..can I whine to you on this blog and say how much I DON’T want school to begin just yet? Can’t we go until September like every other state in the union?

Looks like the only way I can elongate the summer is with food. Barbecue til I drop, force feed my kids peaches and drink a lot of white wine (oh, wait, I do that year-round).

I’m a good sport. So for those of you in the Northeast, West and everywhere else but Southeast, enjoy the rest of your summer. Please don’t gloat by posting your lake pics on Facebook. For the rest of us, here’s a savory summer marinade to help you savor the last few days before the madness of another academic year begins again. At least we can keep our grills going to coincide with the rest of the country.

Grilled Chicken with Apple Honey Marinade

Ingredients:

• 1-2 packages thin chicken strips
• 1 small box apple juice (you know you have one in the fridge)
• Few splashes apple cider vinegar
• Few squirts of honey
• One splash olive oil
• Sprinkle black pepper