halcyon

the word of the day from an alert reader is:  halcyon.  i'd heard it before, but was so happy to have to look it up, it meant i was learning something new!   it means, "a period of time in the past that was idyllic, calm, peaceful, tranquil..."

and it took me back to sprawling on the sand in the sun with the soothing white noise of the ocean, the salty air and calls of seagulls...i think that's why it is most commonly used in the phrase, "halcyon days of summer..."