Dog Days of Summer

I love this photograph because it takes me straight back to childhood. When I visited my aunt, uncle, and cousin in Brooklyn, I remember the neighborhood kids opening fire hydrants on hot summer days. I never quite understood why they did it or how they got away with it, but I understood the fun they were having. The street became a playground, and a rush of water could turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure. Chester Higgins captures that carefree spirit beautifully; the movement, the heat, and unmistakable freedom of summer.

As children head back to school, Sprinkler Cool Off feels especially fitting for Dog Days of Summer. The dog days may be the hottest and slowest days of summer, but for children, they can also be the most memorable. This photograph reminds me to savor those simple pleasures and the childhood memories that stay with us long after summer ends.