>> Adia: REMEMBER WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT YOU’D HAVE TO WORK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

REMEMBER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE AND SEEING YOUR DAYS STRETCHING OUT AHEAD OF YOU, THE MAJORITY OF YOUR WAKING HOURS FILLED BY A JOB OF SOME KIND?

YOUNG ADULTS ARE COMMISERATING IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA ETHER ON THIS VERY TOPIC.

I FEEL SYMPATHY AND A TINY BIT OF AMUSEMENT AT THEIR REACTIONS TO LOSING MONTHS-LONG SUMMER BREAKS AND GUARANTEED HOLIDAYS.

THAT MOMENT FEELS LIKE THAT MOVIE TECHNIQUE WHERE THE BACKGROUND SEEMS TO RECEDE AS THE CAMERA PUSHES IN ON THE PROTAGONIST: TERROR AND DISORIENTATION ALL IN ONE.

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN THAT HAPPENED?

ME?

I THINK I WENT THROUGH THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF, AND I DEFINITELY WENT MORE THAN ONE ROUND WITH DENIAL.

IN FACT, I STILL CAN’T SHAKE THE EXPECTATION OF A LENGTHY, LAZY SUMMER VACATION WHEN THE WEATHER WARMS AND THE LILACS BLOOM; PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR LYING IN A HAMMOCK AND STARING AT THE CLOUDS.

WE SPEND OUR FIRST 18 YEARS, AT LEAST IN MOST PLACES IN THE U.S., TUNING OUR ANNUAL RHYTHMS TO AN AGRARIAN CYCLE THAT THE MAJORITY OF US NO LONGER LIVE AND DIE BY.

EVERY FEW YEARS, IT SEEMS, THERE’S A SWELL OF SUPPORT FOR YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL, BUT IT NEVER SEEMS TO STICK.

MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE WE’RE ALL STILL SECRETLY HOPING WE’LL SOMEHOW GET THE SUMMER OFF.

WHAT DO YOU SAY, BOSS-TYPES?

SEE YOU IN THE HAMMOCK?

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