I don't know whether it's the warm air, glistening, sweaty bodies in small outfits, or the extended days where the sun smiles on you just a little bit longer, but summer is meant for romances, and some are in full bloom this time of year.

My last summer romance was in the summer of 2010 when my best friend, turned boyfriend, then turned fiancée on July 3rd. After proposing to me in his hometown in Southern Maryland, he arranged a helicopter to fly us to the Ashby Inn in Paris where we landed in the back yard. After a fabulous meal with family, the ride home was a unique part. Since it was a holiday weekend, every pier on the Potomac was setting off fireworks that lined our paths from the dark sky back to earth, though I'm not sure my feet ever touched the ground. It was straight out of a movie, and my guy set the bar pretty high with that proposal.

Some summer romances are short, hot and passionate- like Summer herself, but inevitably a heart gets broken along the way. Sometimes you break; other times you are the broken, but either way, it does not give anyone the right to play Ping-Pong with someone's emotions intentionally. Be kind when dating, friends. In the bug/windshield scenario-one day you will be the bug, and it will hurt being squashed.

Dating in a small town can sometimes be difficult. There are plenty of fish in the sea, but what happens when you live in a pond? Remember, there are eyes everywhere so if you are seen with X on one day and Y on another at the same restaurant you frequent, you deserve that beer that was dumped on your head.

When thinking about dating, I can't help but think of the iconic '90s movie "Singles" where a character made a dating video that was completely untrue to herself. Whether online dating or not, sometimes it is best to let things happen organically. Spend time doing the things you love to do, and you'd be surprised at the connections you can make based on common interests. Plus, if you are not a cyclist and entertain doing that solely to meet someone, all you will end up being is chafed.

As the old, married lady, I have to make reference to the necessary "talk" that anyone dating needs to have. If someone, with whom you are not in a committed relationship, is willing to sleep with you without protection, they also did the same thing with their last partner. It is 2017 people; use your brains and protection.

Last but not least, a different form of protection. Please, when meeting a date from either a setup, online or somewhere that you are not familiar (like on vacation), let someone know where you are. You don't want to be the next headline, and neither does the community that loves you.

Let your hearts be warm this summer!