Summer is the reward you earn for being a student. If you go to class, do your homework and obey the rules, you get summer.

Summer is completely different when you're a grown-up. When you're an adult, summer means high electric bills, sweating, watering the grass and slapping at mosquitoes. And summer vacation means packing and unpacking the SUV, expensive hotel bills and sunburns.

Summer almost seems to be punishing us for growing up: “Ha, ha — you have to go to work today in this sweltering heat instead of lounging by the pool.” “Shorts and flip-flops? You're breaking the company dress code.” “You think this is hot? Just wait until you get into your car to drive home!” “Go ahead, plan a week off. The work will just pile up while you're gone and be waiting for you when you return.”

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