Today is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. I’ve been brainstorming ways to make the most of this summer, and I was happy when the Happier app challenged me to write a “five-senses portrait” of summer.

Reflecting on summers past and present, I recalled the silvery light of Montana, the chlorine scent of pools, and cool bed sheets on hot nights. Some more highlights from my five-senses portrait of summer:

• Seeing: Jamie dressed in tennis whites and a knee brace; so many shades of green in Central Park
• Hearing: Shrill pulsing screech of cicadas in Kansas City (a sound we will all be very familiar with this particular summer!); kids yelling “Marco? Polo!” while playing in a swimming pool
• Smelling: Particularly pungent smell of a New York City summertime trash pickup day; hot dirt after a rain
• Tasting: Homemade peach ice cream my grandmother made one unforgettable summer; the first time Eleanor tried cotton candy, at the Central Park Zoo
• Touching: The sticky, heavy, smooth feel of sunscreen; the weight of a heavy tote bag full of books for vacation reading

What would appear in your five-senses portrait of summer?

If you’re interested in prompts like these or if you’re looking for inspiration for your summer plans, you can still Spin the Wheel in the Happier™ app to get fun ideas through the end of June.