My friend, Mindy, was telling me the other day that she felt like she had a real case of the “Summertime Blues.” She’d just been told that she couldn’t go out and enjoy the Black Hills region like she normally does and was pretty bummed about the whole ordeal. Her story had a positive ending though, so I asked her to share it here. Enjoy. — Joe

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The news was in, and it wasn’t good. The doctor hung her head low and informed me that I was not to rock climb for a minimum of one month – until the 2 inch incision on my arm had healed.

Alright, so it was a routine procedure, completely non-life threatening and I even got a lollipop from the nurse for being brave. But no climbing for one month? That’s ludicrous!

After she told me this, I could have cared less about the stitches and pain in my arm. I became panicked, sitting nervously in my sterile hospital gown. It hit me like ton of bricks; like the weight that falls on your shoulders when your parents tell you that your dog, Scruffy, went outside and “never came back.”

I’d been hit by the mid-summer blues.

So many of us wait many long months for summer to finally arrive. After battling freak cold fronts and spring storms, visitors and locals populate the Black Hills for fun in the sun and an unforgettable vacation experience. If you’re like me, you came to the Black Hills as a visitor or to live, seeking high energy activities and an enriching experience.

As an avid climber and outdoor enthusiast, I retreat each weekend to the limestone or granite walls around our great region for some of the best climbing in the United States. Unfortunately, as mother nature intends, June turns to July and before you know it, summer is half over and fall is on its way.

After leaving the doctor’s office, it only took me a few minutes to realize that I could cure myself of these blues, even without hitting the crags. I was quick to remember that the Black Hills offer so many attractions and activities, it’s hard to beat the inclusive experience summer provides us with.

If you’re feeling the crunch and are a little blue about the thought of summer slipping away, I can prescribe you some great antidotes to beat your mid-summer blues, starting with some Black Hills events coming up this weekend:

• Gold Discovery Days in Custer
• 24th Annual CASA Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk in Spearfish Canyon
• 5th Annual Alice Smith Flower Show in Hill City
• Black Hills Farmers Market in Rapid City

Although I’m not a doctor of medicine, I know the power and versatility our great region has to offer. Take two and call me in the morning.