Last September, I celebrated two years on the air – well, not really on the air but more over whatever the internet is. I can keep track easily because the host site contacts me for more money. It’s our symbiotic relationship. I keep writing, and they charge my credit card.
During my teaching days, this time of year was really no-person’s land between vacation and school starting. “Happy” notices would come in the mail about teacher meeting and school starting. It was symbolized by many teachers by a sense of, as the Victorians called it, “melancholia”. I mentioned last year that we ran into an acquaintance of my wife’s a couple of years ago in the store. She too was a teacher, and she mentioned what she called her “oh, sh . . .” plant in her front yard. Turns out, it was (and probably still is) a Rose of Sharon, which comes into full blossom in mid-August around here. To her, it always represented the start of school, getting her classroom ready, and the end of summer.
Nature does that for, or maybe to us. I’m just enjoying the nice warm weather, my plants are looking pretty good though a bit beyond their peak, and all of a sudden, the local nursery puts out a field of chrysanthemums. Mums always signify fall – the end of my gardens, dumping out containers that I’ve loved and watched blossom for months, putting deck furniture away, covering up my rocker on the back porch. So, they’re not happy flowers for me. Even though we like them at Christmas time, when the holly berries turn bright red, it signifies a time of passage to bleakness and cold. I should mention that my summer practices include taking a cup of coffee and my newspaper out to the porch every morning. It’s a peaceful time – the birds are waking, the hummingbirds are around, Hector my friendly chipmunk dashes across the deck, and it’s usually before Herself gets up. Long about now – mid to late August, the mornings start to get a bit chilly and my routine loses its appeal. It is also the end of barbeque season, although we have had “conversations” about grilling in the off season. Her Ladyship points out that some people do in fact use their grills year round. In Florida maybe, but I prefer not to shovel a path in the snow to get to it. Therefore, realistically, April to October is usable time to put on the hot dogs and hamburgers. They don’t taste the same in the winter anyway. It’s like eating beef stew in July – it just confuses the senses. Let’s not spoil a good thing by trying to replicate the grilling magic in hats, scarves, and gloves.
One of the great things about being retired is that I can extend the time that I keep some of the growing things in place. I used to scurry around, watering the containers before leaving for school, or sometimes ignoring them. That afternoon, I’d notice them looking distinctly limp and pathetic. Now I can do it at my leisure and not feel guilty. On the plus side, everything growing is on sale. The local nurseries, the Home Depot across the street, even the grocery stores just want to get everything out. The mums arrived at Market Basket this week. That’s a much surer sign of back-to-school than anything the clothing stores or Staples can think up. Let’s face it – they’ve been marketing back-to-school since before any of their employees went on vacation. A dear friend, also a teacher, who’s career was sadly cut down way too early years ago, used to say that summer vacation “was all downhill after Father’s Day.” Some years, it did in fact feel that way, particularly if we had lots of snow days to make up.
So, what is the solution to the Great August Depression? Maybe we need a special coffee flavor, like we do pumpkin spice in the fall and peppermint over the Christmas holidays. Apple flavors overlap the pumpkins, so that’s too late. Maybe something peachy? They’re coming into season. Strawberries and raspberries are too soon in July. Or we could think outside the box. August could become the Month of Caramel. That gives us something to which we can look forward, although the downside is that some of us gravitate to caramel year-round. Perhaps cinnamon or toffee? I know – Banana-Swirl Month. There isn’t anyone that doesn’t like bananas. I’m just tossing out ideas – feel free to jump in here if you have other suggestions.
So, the friendly blue vests at Walmart are putting the backpacks and school supplies to a less conspicuous location, and they’re just days away from putting out Halloween costumes, candy, and fake cobwebs. It’s still a bit early for the apple cider donuts and the Indian corn, but in another couple of weeks, the trees in swamps will start to turn color. I know – that’s the final shift from summer to not summer. The “Now Hiring” signs are appearing prominently everywhere because the college students and many high schoolers too are on their way out. I know this because my wife pointedly brings them all to my attention, and now even my daughter is doing it too. There’s still a little time to hit the beach or the pool, although the first ads for pool covers are hitting the papers and fliers this week. The pool people are getting a little anxious about their fall trade, and want to get a jump so they’re not working 24/7 after Labor Day. I always found that the minute we closed ours, the weather would skyrocket into the 80’s and we’d have record-breaking warmth in September.
Comic strip character Garfield refers to naps as “pushing life’s pause button.” An apt description. August is like that for me at this stage of my life – pressing summer’s pause button. Even the amusement and water parks are advertising, “There’s still time.” Yes, there is. So, let’s relax just a little for the next couple of weeks, brew up a peach or banana-swirl latte, put on a long-sleeved t-shirt (it’s still way too early for flannel) and take our newspapers out onto the porch or take a walk on the beach, and enjoy whatever warm weather is still lingering from July. For my official Ode to Fall, I’m thinking . . . . . . . DON’T RUSH ME.
I'm Thinking...No! 