Today was the first day of school for my kids. I packed up the lunches and snacks, I gathered together the required supplies, I double-checked the teacher letters to make sure I didn’t forget anything, and I purposefully dodged all the people saying “Guess that’s goodbye to summer.”
Fleece and shorts, a Maine tradition.
I am an unapologetic summer person. I love early morning hikes, I love endless afternoons hanging out at a lake, I love tinkering in the yard. Even though this was not my best summer–it was pretty hectic and more filled with commitments than I would have liked–I’m not ready to let go of it yet.
We’re still going to sit out on the porch swing and listen to the birds. We’re still going to head to the lake before dinner and call it bathtime. We’re still going to snack from the cherry tomato buffet growing in our yard. We’re still going to go dig clams, hunt for blackberries, and pick apples. We’re still going to neglect cleaning our house on weekends so we can go hiking, biking, fishing, or whatever adventure calls our name.
Don’t act like summer’s over. Don’t fill your calendars with events and errands and engagements. Don’t start planning your Halloween costume. Don’t let the folks who like to hurry rush us along from one thing to the next. Remember that a big part of the outdoors experience is accepting whatever it is offering you at a particular moment. Take some time to settle back and squeeze the enjoyment from these golden days for as long as we have them.
Most importantly, remember that summer doesn’t end until September 23rd. And don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.