Summer is the best time to keep a journal.  The weather may be schizophrenic: gorgeous one day, then hazy under a heat dome, followed by several calm days, then there are tornadoes, yet the planet is a source of wonder, and it is a pleasure, even a duty, to enjoy every beautiful day, and perhaps sing along to U2’s “Beautiful Day.”

I am not a diarist, and in fact I scribbled my last terse entry in March. “Cold, 3rd bike ride of the year, windy, 50 degrees. Creek very low. Dogs vs. geese? Geese took to the water.”

I do have lots of ideas for journaling themes, though. Take out your spiral, Moleskine, or composition book and begin.

1.  THE WEATHER JOURNAL.  A friend has recorded the temperature and weather-related details every day since the 1980s. He/she has seen many changes.  This journal is a dramatic history of the planet and humankind.

2,  THE TRAVEL JOURNAL.  Some of you take fabulous vacations (please tell us about your villa in France), while others stay home and luxuriate in unplanned days .  Write about where you go, what you see, what you read, moments of quiet, special revelations, and what you do or don’t recommend about the experience.

3.  COOKING JOURNAL.  Record recipes and rate them.  Sometimes to succeed you need to tweak a recipe, and it is easier to jot down ideas on paper.  Tip for the non-cook: if you intend to serve Baker’s Square pie for dessert, be sure to serve it with ice cream.  Otherwise someone will complain. AND complain… and complain.

4.   HEALTH JOURNAL.  Take your health very, very seriously. Eat healthy food:  lots of vegetables.  Don’t treat your symptoms with Web, M.D. because you are didn’t go to med school, you know, though it never hurts to take a Covid test. It is good to write brief entries about your health, so you’ll know if it’s time to do some yoga, take a long walk, or see a doctor

5.  ENTERTAINMENT JOURNAL.  Rate books, movies, music, Shakespeare at the Park, malls, restaurants, and historical houses.  There’s always something to do but not all of it is terrific. In addition to star ratings, write short entries if you feel like it.

What kind of journaling do you do? Let me know.