The Perfect Summer

....is this summer. I don't think I'll ever have a better one.

Things I miss about the first half:

• Europe. But mostly France.
• Trains. I can't even tell you how much better they are than airplanes.
• Markets. There is just something about an open-air market. 
• European fruit. It's so much fresher there. 
• Food: pastries, gelato, pasta...mmm
• World-famous art only a metro stop away
• Having amazing friends to hang out with 24/7
• Speaking French
• Classes. Where the lesson is spent walking around Paris pointing out styles of Renaissance architecture, or your assignment is to go take pictures. 
• Chestnut butter'd french bread and hot chocolate for breakfast
• Living in a city with a history that goes back more than 100 years
• Museums. (well maybe I don't miss these yet...)
• Cathedrals
• Picture-taking (my camera is still out of commission)
• Yeah so basically everything. I could go on for pages and pages. Except living out of a suitcase.

So the first half was pretty spectacular. I was just going through my pictures again and realizing how MUCH I miss it already. *Sigh* I need to go back. I will go back. Just not sure when...

However, things are looking up for the second half. I've been loving:

• Swimming almost every day. Bliss.
• Bringing home a stack of books from the library and finishing them all in less than a week.
• Re-watching the Harry Potter movies with my sisters and brother.
• Watching Poirot with my mom and grandpa
• Having a dog again.
• SYTYCD
• White Collar
• Getting my hair cut.
• Wearing sandals.
• Not having to bring a jacket.
• Not being in a big city. Eugene is just the right size :)
• Eugene summers. You can wear jeans and a t-shirt or shorts and still be the perfect temperature. I definitely don't miss the constantly-sweaty-while-riding-public-transportation stickiness
• Driving my car
• Sleeping in
• Shopping with my mom and sister

Things I'm looking forward to:

• The final Harry Potter movie. Once this comes out my childhood is officially over. 
• Friends coming home from their missions in August
• Fresh blueberries from my backyard
• Eating dinner outside
• Selling ice cream
• Getting letters
• Cooking 
• Going rafting
• Getting into shape
• Skyping

Pictures to come! (as soon I get my camera back)