I love that Aurora pauses, gathers her breath before she flings us into summer. For 9 days she lingers before turning her face toward distant Autumn.

For 9 days in June where I live on the edge of Lake Superior, the sun rises at the same hour 5:13 am before it starts rising later and later, minute by minute. The days get shorter and life gets intense.

June is not really the part of any season here in Northeastern Minnesota. We use June to get ready for Summer. In June mosquitos breed, Loons hatch and husbands marry.

In Northeastern Minnesota, the June bride comes equipt with sweater, umbrella and a spray can of mosquito repellant.

I love that the sunrise pauses like car at the highest arch of the roller coaster just before we plunge into summer and live wildly in flimsier outfits, realizing life will soon encounter another glacial winter!

The sun holds his breath before the picnic of summer begins and earth spins through swimming, bikinis and bikes, baseball, fireworks, thunder, sweetcorn, harvest, outdoor concerts and good craft beer sipped on the deck.

I respect the 9 day pause! It’s the parent catching her breath before she turns the key in the ignition after packing her children into the car for the Disneyland visit.

This string of days is the meditation which brings mindfulness to the hectic days of summer.