Now that we finally have the sun on our sides, and our backs and smiling faces, let’s slather on the sunscreen because that daystar is strong. I use SPF 60 NoAd, myself, but that’s because of the dominant Irish/Swedish in me.The Itlalian genes, skipped this womans’s skin. I got the fire, that’s what counts. If you can get by with SPF 15, more power to you, as long as you use something. Leather is for the cowhides, not yours.

As for repelling those pesky mosquitos (from all the rain), I am told Sandalwood incense is a good way to go. Stick some sticks in a pot of sand on the deck, or at the beach party. It smells wonderful. If insence is not your bag, then try a few drops of clove oil, in your body lotion, or maybe a few drops on the skin. They don’t like the smell. Not sure about clove ciggies, but I am not advocating tobacco,“the devil’s weed,” I am trying to give  them up forever, myself. Of course citronella candles are the old standby. Nothing wrong with old school.

Are flies your problem? Then, basil is your friend. Put pots of this fragrant herb around your table in yard, throw some chopped fresh basil in your summer salad, or cut the leaves and throw some around table, when eating outside. Ants at your picnic? Cinnamon to the rescue. Bring a bottle of cinnamon and sprinkle a trail around blanket, or table. They won’t cross it. Yellow jackets, pest pf pests, (if you’ve been stung, you know it hurts), are a nuisance. Tye some dryer sheets to chairs, or make little flags with tree branches and sick in pots of sand on table, While you’re at it, wipe the dryer sheet through your hair, it beats the frizzies.

As far as summer manners go, they remain a year round necessity, but no harm in reminding us all, anyway.
One: Have consideration for the next person. No one wants to wait in line, or deal with cranky customers, when the beach is calling, and the dogs are tired. Patience and a smile go a long way. And they are free. To give and receive.
Two: Treat the public restrooms like they are your own, yet remember they are not. Close the door when using them. No one wants to be on display. Consider that. It isn’t your own bathroom, remember? Do not pound on the door if the door is closed and locked. Wait your turn. Personally, I’ll take longer if you bang on the door. And make sure you ask for the empty roll to be replaced when you use the last of it, okay? Respect your fellow woman, she came a long way for you, baby! And sit down on the seat. Spare me the germ theory. Not. Sit.
Three: Slow down in the car. Death can wait, no? Thank you.
Four: Say “excuse me,” if you would like to pass by. We are not invisible nor are we things for you to push aside. Use things, not people. Take your face out of your texting device, and look at people, and use your manners. Or stay home; your choice. The world is not at your service. Shallow Hal and Halley, are passé.’ Get a new rep. Try compassion, it’s the new black.

And that was not a segue, by the way. But the other day, I was watching my favorite actor, Morgan Freeman, in Along Came A Spider. His character, Dr.Alex Cross, has a line that struck me: “You do what you are.”  Monica Potter’s character Jezzie, replies to him, “You mean, you are what you do.” He says: “No, you choose what you do, because of your gifts, or you learn how to be what your job requires.” I like that. Morgan Freemanisms abound, as far as his character’s lines go, and I think he’s grand. Take his Red, in Shawshank Redempton: “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Classic.  Back when Morgan gave us Hoke, in Driving Miss Daisy, I think it was then I fell in love with him. He says to Dan Ackroyd’s character Boolie: “I’ve wrestled some hogs in the mud in my time, and I’ve yet to let one get away.” So cool.

When you play God, you’ve got to have a good line. Morgan doesn’t disappoint in Bruce Almighty. “That’s your problem, Bruce - that’s everybody’s problem. You keep looking up.” Amen. It is all about how we act, isn’t it? Not so much what we say, or preach, even. Take Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris, in Million Dollar Baby, a fave of mine. “To make a fighter you gotta strip them down to bare wood…you gotta show ‘em how to fight backin’ up so the other guy doesn’t want to come after you.” Priceless information.

And then there’s feisty Morgan, in Lean On Me, as Principal Joe Clark. He was worse than the nuns with their yardsticks and erasers, and they were scary. Joe says: “They used to call me Crazy Joe. Well now they can call me Batman!”

And that brings me to a more current film that a lot of people related to, maybe even my crusty old daddy. The Bucket List. Carter Chambers is speaking ‘from the grave,’ about his friend, Edward Cole. “Even now I cannot understand the measure of a life, but I can tell you this: I know when he died, his eyes were closed and his heart was open.”  Says it all. Well maybe not. Let’s not forget Azeem, Morgan’s role in the movie, Robin Hood. I lean toward this line the most. Sometimes reality just doesn’t add up. I’ll let Azeem say it for me: “ In my dreams alone I have imagined such a place.”