The tans will fade, but the memories will last forever. (Unknown)
That old September feeling left over from schooldays, of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air. (Stegner)
Sigh — there goes another summer, Snoopy . . . (Charlie Brown)
The last time I wrote in these pages was toward the beginning of summer when the bees had decided to establish a base in my home. The bees were nicely dispatched to new housing, and summer has passed — or at least is passing. The wild tangle of greenery that has crept ever nearer to the house throughout the summer, and is now looping friendly arms over the porches and windows, is turning rusty-brown and looking tired. The last tomatoes droop on the vines, and wolf spiders are trying to move indoors. Mosquito bites are becoming ever more fierce, trying to get in their last innings, I guess. Tropical storms are brewing one on top of another. It’s almost World Series time, and football has begun. And the flowers . . . despite the lack of rain, the flowers are putting on a final display of color and brilliance that is breathtaking.
My reflections on yet one more summer?
–It’s pretty clear it wouldn’t take long for nature to take right over were we to relinquish for a moment our attempts to coexist with it.
–Alas, my ancient Don Williams’ CD died — yes, there are still some of us die-hards who listen to CDs — no longer can I do my canning or baking to Louisiana Woman or You’re My Best Friend. While it may strike some of you that this does not necessarily fall in the realm of Summer-ly Reflections, let me tell you that it’s well nigh impossible to make a chocolate buttermilk cake or put up green tomato mincemeat without Don.
–I waged an unsuccessful battle with stink/squash bugs over my tomatoes again this summer. While I’ll take a lot from the stinky little suckers, messin’ with my tomatoes is tantamount to war.
–I didn’t have an ice cream cone all summer. How can that be??
— BUT — I was invited to a Spamorama, complete with Spam done five ways, and Guinness Extra Stout. Now that’s friendship!
–I could go on and on, but all this is really just in the service of getting you caught up, so I can begin a new project in these pages, one for which I hope you’ll stay tuned!
And in the meantime, a reflective Summer’s end to you . . .