July is the height of the summer; reliably hot and untinged by August’s melancholy, it is the time to be with the elements. Specifically, I’m talking about sun, sand, grass, and water – preferably salt. Summer is also about family, especially those you may not get to see so often. It’s for reminiscing and creating new memories, blending the temporal and the timeless. I spent Sunday afternoon riding waves in Asbury Park, NJ. In between sets, I’d float on my back with my feet pointed toward the beach. The scene? Beach blankets, umbrellas, color everywhere. Classic, fresh and real — it exists across generations. There’s more, but that’s it for now.

~WD