ingSummer

    byHarukiMurakami

    TranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    Ilovesummer.WheernoonsummersusdownonmeandImwearingapairofshorts,andImlisteningtorodrollanddrinkihinkImthehappiestpersoninthewholeworld.Itsreallytoobadthatsummeronlylastsfor3months.Ifitwerepossible,Idwantittogoforabouthalfayear.

    Alittlewhileago,Ireadasci-finovelbyUrsulaK.LeGuincalledBoundaryPlasaboutthisplahatsincrediblyfaraway,whereoakesabout60Earthyears.Springis15years,summeris15years,fallisfifteenyears,andwinterisfifteenyears.Thisisawesome.Onthisplaheyhaveasaying:“Hewhoseethespringtwiceistrulyhappy.”Thatistosay,longlifeisagoodthing.

    Butwhataboutthepeoplewholivealongtime,onlytoseethewiwice?

    Thatwouldbeterrible.Onthisplahewinterisparticularlylong,dark,andsevere.

    IfIwerebornonthispla,Iwouldwanttobebornduringthesummer.Iwouldspendmyboyhoodrunningarounduhehotsun;thefallwouldbringadolesdyoung-adulthood;myproductiveyearsandmiddleagewouldpasswiththatharshwinter;andinthespringIdbeeanoldman.

    ThisisnottosaythatIdhaveareallylonglifeahesummeroncemore.Ithinkitwouldbegreattodiewith“ah,IthinkIheretheBeachBoysplayingsomewhere”asmyfinalthought.

    TheresanoldtunebyFrankSinatracalled“SeptemberDreaming.”Themeaningofthesongissomethinglike“fromMayuntilSeptemberisalongtime,butwheemberes,thedaysgetshorter.Nowitsfallandtheleavesoreesareturniheresnotmuchtimeleft”WheneverIhearthissong,ashadowpassesovermyheart(eventhoughitsagreatsong).Thetimetodieis,ofcourse,summer.Iwanttoliveoutmyd