Summer Is Over
So it dawned on me this morning. Summer is officially over.
This was the first weekend where we had some free time that we didn't spend at the pool. Although the wee ones have been in school going on four weeks now, I was still taking them to the pool some weeknights after they'd finished homework.
Last Monday, the pool closed. We actually closed it down, which was bittersweet. By 5pm, the lifeguards had started to remove the trash cans from around the pool area. The ice cream and other foods that they couldn't store went on sale for $1 apiece. And by 6pm when the pool closed, the only chairs not stacked up and removed were the ones where we and a few other die hards stored our towels and gear.
On Saturday, I attended my first Northwestern home game of the year. It was a 7pm game, so we knew it would be chillier than our normal first games, and it was - especially once it started raining at 9:45. I stuck it out until the clock hit :00 I was ready for football. And I can even give you proof.
For some reason, it still didn't sink in that summer was really over until Little Miss came downstairs voluntarily wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Wait, what?
Don't ask me why, but that's what sealed it for me that summer is truly over. I have my windows open, letting the fresh air in. And at 11:30, I don't need to close them because it's so humid outside or it's too hot. I'm enjoying the fresh air while I'm wearing my own jeans and long sleeve shirt.
I like fall. I enjoy football and the smell of burning leaves and even the cooler weather. It's the change and the feeling of loss of summer that wrenches my heart just a little bit. Summer speaks to me of freedom and joy and discovery. And I miss that.
So how about you? Has it sunk in that summer is over (for those of you with children NOT in school thanks to the teacher strike, don't answer that and I apologize in advance)? What are you most looking forward to this fall?
4 comments:
Hi Michelle, That manicure is awesome! My kids started school last Wednesday and we are missing our family pool time too. Though I am not missing all that extra pool laundry! I also like the cooler air of fall and putting on my jeans again. But there is something to say for the ease of summer. I can tell that I'm already in crazy PTA mode and school just started! If only I could get a beach getaway in the middle of the year, then I would get those much needed relaxation vibes again! Football fever is strong in my house too!
Soups and crockpot dinners.
I'll miss being able to start my 90-minute walk at 6 AM. I guess I could use a flashlight, but I'm a little nervous about mountain lions on the prowl at pre-dawn hours. Silly me.
Kelly - Thanks for the nice words on the manicure. I copied a friend who had it professionally done. Hers looks professional. Mine... not as much, but I still love it! I thought I loved fall because seasons change and clothes I haven't worn in a long time, but ummm oops. Gym time!
Pat - Oh I am so with you on the soups and crockpot dinners. I'm definitely doing a crockpot dinner tonight that MIGHT be a soup, and I can't wait :)
While I'm usually happy about the arrival of fall, I'm very sad that summer is over this year. I think because we had such a wonderful summer with the kids being older and easier to travel with. And if I think ahead a little bit, fall signals the cold weather coming up shortly. I do like the colors of fall, though, as well as the cooler temps. But to think of no beach and sand until next summer is quite depressing.
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