I’m not going to lie; I’m extremely jealous of our local students.

While I could turn this column into a rundown of all of the programs, activities and opportunities that are made available to them here in Fountain Hills, I’m actually referring to two simple words that, when put in the correct order, inspire feelings of complete freedom and unbridled joy: Spring break.

From where I sit, it’s Sunday evening and I’m staring down the tracks at another busy week. I’ve got appointments lined up, assignments to cover and another issue of the paper to wrangle.

Outside of that, I’ll be taking part in one of my least favorite annual activities this week; filing my taxes.

It’s also that time of year when we start compiling articles, pictures and issues of the paper for annual awards programs, which will include a deep dive through 12 months’ worth of back issues.

Outside my window, though, only a few moments ago, I heard kids excitedly yelling while chasing each other up and down the street.

Our neighborhood kids are usually pretty active but, this being around 7 p.m., hearing such merriment caught me off guard.

“What are those kids still doing out playing,” I wondered.

“Don’t they know tomorrow is a school day?”

And that’s when it hit me that, while we adults were simply preparing for another work week, these youngsters were joyously celebrating the fact that they had another seven full days of zero responsibilities ahead of them.

Spring break is like their first brief taste of the wonders summer has in store, and the local kiddos were just making it clear that they are going to take advantage of every second of it.

While I may be green with envy, I truly hope all of Fountain Hills’ youngsters are enjoying themselves this week.

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But I can’t act like I’m not having my fair share of fun adventures lately, too.

Outside of last weekend’s kite festival and the first of two St. Patrick’s events, I finally managed to head down the road to the annual Renaissance Festival.

We walked through all of the colorful shops, enjoyed the various performances and ate plenty of food that my doctor would no doubt take issue with.

If I seem brighter this week, however, it’s not because I had so much fun visiting ye olde festival. It’s because I managed to apply sunblock everywhere but my face.

I didn’t realize I had made this critical error until I returned home and, patting myself on the back for arms that were well protected from a day in the Arizona sun; I looked in the mirror to see a Ryan-shaped lobster face staring back at me.

If any of you kids out for spring break are still reading this, maybe take this as a lesson on how “not” to experience some fun in the sun through the remainder of your vacation.