September is Back

Hola!

Funny how we get into the groove of summer...and it seems busy at times, or we take a little trip here and there, or we mix up activities just to have some variety.

But it's different.  WE determine the schedule, whether or not we get up early or go on field trips or mow the lawn or clean the house.  We fill in the boxes of the calendar with things we want to do.  Summertime WE are in charge.

Turn the calendar over to September.  Suddenly, almost without warning, the CLOCK and the CALENDAR are again in charge!  Schools send emails by the inbox-full.  Sports practices and games fill in those calendar boxes daily, weekly.  Teachers send updates and assignments, even homework for parents.  "Fill in these four THOUSAND emergency forms, please, and send me a million-words-or-less about your child."  Don't forget multiple back-to-school nights and early-morning seminary for the high schoolers!

Did someone forget to write in an activity on the calendar?  Then guess what...it DOESN'T EXIST.  I am driving and shuttling to and from sports, after-school clubs and programs, church activities, and evening classes (Driver's Ed for David--6 weeks, 2 or 3 times a week) all afternoon, every afternoon!

So a couple of weeks ago, I posted on Facebook that I was feeling a little melancholy that summer was over.  Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" was on the radio and he sang, "...I feel it in the air...the summer's out of reach.  Empty lake...empty streets...the sun goes down alone..."  Decidedly, the saddest lyrics I've heard.

Now I remember why those lyrics make me sad.  With the turn of the calendar page to September, I handed over my peace, my control and my sanity...back to everybody else!

Here are the kids on the beach on our Canada trip.  These are some fond summer memories--

Happy Saturday tomorrow!  Kari