To our readers:

Ah, summer. Sunshine. Vacations. Lemonade, ice cream and outdoor picnics. It's little wonder most of us look forward to the season with longing and always seem a little sad to see it go. After all, it doesn't seem to get much better than summer.

I've always entered the season with a strange excitement, but it's not just because it means time at the beach. Summer, when we really think about it, is a season full of unique changes and opportunities. You won't hear Bryan Adams sing about the "Fall of '69." There's just something about summer.

It might be a job that brings new opportunities, a trip that opens your eyes to a new world or a fling you hoped would never have to end. And though we may only answer the question, "How was your summer?" with a polite, "Good," undoubtedly there's a lot more to a summertime experience than can be summed up with one word.

TowerView can relate. Each summer the magazine gets a change in leadership, a new set of goals and some fine-tuning along the way. None of it would have been possible without TowerView's wonderful staff, and the behind-the-scenes work of countless others. Thank you for the support; you've shown that if there's one thing that doesn't vary about TowerView, it's the dedication behind it.

Maybe it's my newfound status as a senior that's to blame, but I feel older than ever this summer, as if adulthood has somehow crept in when I wasn't looking. Whether trying to meet the challenges of TowerView, dealing with the seeming unfairness of life, or making some of the last summer memories of my youth, it's clear I'm growing up. Change is in the air, and somehow I know the Summer of '01 is going to be a memorable one--I wouldn't have it any other way.

So whether you're reading us on the beach, at work or somewhere in between, enjoy, and don't forget to contemplate your summer once in a while--it's more than just time off from school. Best wishes for a happy one, filled with opportunities and surprises. We'll see you in the fall.E