Slow down and keep the magic, and children, safe this summer

Summer is just around the corner and school is almost out — you can almost hear area youngsters counting down until the last day of school and the start of that most hallowed of institutions (for kids, anyway) … summer vacation.

That means more kids heading down to the beach, over to Travers Park or a few blocks over to hang out at a friends. It also means, that as drivers, we need to pay a little more attention to what we're doing.

Summer is a magical time for a kid — endless sunshine, games and hanging out with friends. There's little or no responsibility — you don't have to worry about a job, bills or taking care of a family. The only reality is to play — as long and as much as you can.

If it's warm out, you head out to the lake. If your friends are around, you hang out, or maybe go for a bike ride. You beg your folks for money for an ice cream cone or a cold soda.

There's almost a Norman Rockwell quality to it all — it's the best of all worlds and everything is possible. Magic happens during summer.

Magic, unfortunately, doesn't always mix well in the "real" world — and the result can be deadly. It may be on a family outing to the beach and the water is irresistible to a young Jenny Thompson or Michael Phelps. It may be a kid (or adult for that matter) who dashes into the street without paying attention and a driver can't stop in time.

Extra vigilance is needed in the summer … if you're out and about, take it easy and slow it down. Traffic is going to be busy and the roads are going to be packed — it's summer and that's how traffic is going to be. Stressing and rushing isn't going to change it … just take a deep breath (or two) and relax.

To (badly) paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel's "Feelin' Groovy," … "slow down, you move too fast … let's try to make the summer safe."

It'll help keep the magic — and our community's children — alive for many more summers to come.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.