Spring and Summer are my seasons.  I love the sun, the warmth, the long days, and being outside as many hours a day as possible.

Then every year, around the end of August, it happens. The days start to get shorter, the flowers in the gardens fade, my son gets ready to go back to school…and I start to feel a bit melancholy.  I want to yell “But wait!  I’m not done yet!”.  I feel a minor panic as if summer is ending before I’m ready, and I want to ask for just a little bit more time.  I’m sure if I lived in the southwest, I’d be ready to bid adieu to the scorching heat.  But as far as I’m concerned, in New England, summer is about a month too short.

And honestly, it isn’t all about the weather and the warm temps.  There is a relaxed, casual friendliness about summer.  There are vacations, bbq’s, pool and beach time… there is sitting out in the evenings talking until the fireflies come out.  We see more of friends, family and neighbors, and everyone seems just a bit more at ease.  All THAT is what I miss the most as summer fades away.

This weekend we had a shift in the air — by this afternoon the temps had dropped to about 79 degrees, the humidity disappeared and the sky was sunny and clear.  Absolutely perfect.  On amazing days like this, everything seems better. People are friendlier, chores seem less arduous, and even my dog is peppier.  I had to run a bunch of errands this afternoon, and I really didn’t mind — because it was a windows down, tunes cranked, wind-in-your-hair kind of day.  Even though as evening came and it cooled down even more, and I could practically taste the coming of autumn, it still felt great.  I stood outside in the sun, closed my eyes and took a deep breath — attempting to trap it inside, hoping that I can somehow conjure this perfection back up when I need it the most this winter.

Yes, there is a magic to every season, and having four seasons is one of the reasons I love this part of the country.  I will enjoy the crispness of fall and will make the best of the snowy, cold winter.  But before those days come, I’m going to squeeze every last drop I can out of these last summer days and will try to be a good role model for my son…..by not to throwing a temper tantrum when I change the calendar page to September.