“Everything good, 
everything magical 
happens between 
the months of 
June and August.” 
Jenny Han

Well,… I’m not sure I fully agree with author Jenny Han’s assessment of the significance of the summer months, but I will concur that this time of year is an amazing season with unlimited potential for good. Technically, the official start to summer will be on Sunday, June 21st. For me, however, summer has always been June 1st through Labor Day weekend in September. Throughout the years, this has been a special time of year for me.

June is a month for celebrations. My birthday, Kathy’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary are all in June. My granddaughter, Penelope, celebrates her birthday on June 21st. And, of course, Father’s Day is on the June calendar. In addition to Kathy, several of her siblings were born in June — John, Tom, and Clare. And through the years, countless graduations, weddings, and baptisms have also taken place in the first month of summer. 

Summer weather arrived right on time this year. Here in the Santa Clara Valley, daytime highs for this first week of June will range from the upper 70s to low 80s. I couldn’t ask for a better forecast.

Kathy and I have a couple of trips planned for the summer. We’re not embarking on any cruises this year. The trips we’ve planned will keep us in California. We’ll spend one week doing the tourist thing in San Francisco and one week visiting Kathy’s brother, John, in Eureka. Those of us fortunate enough to live in California have little need to leave the state to enjoy the wonders of nature. We can enjoy beaches, mountains, lakes, rivers, redwood forests, open meadows, national parks, and so much more right here in our home state.

June through August are also the heart of baseball season. After years of futility, the Giants enjoyed amazing success in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 seasons. Their home stadium, Oracle Park, is a perfect venue for watching America’s game. Even when the Giants are struggling, a day at the ballpark is always a treat. I’m sure Kathy and I will get to a few games this year.

So as we begin June 2026, I do so with both positivity and gratitude. We never know what joys or sorrows we will experience in any given time span, but I’m grateful to be starting this season with high expectations for a memorable summer.