Ask around and you’ll find that I have a hard time surrendering summer, and that’s putting it mildly. As soon as we pass the Summer Solstice and the days begin to grow shorter, my pond cronies tease me about the sun dropping behind the mountain a minute earlier each night.
As flirtatious June heats up into toasty July and then releases into cooling August, true friends hush others when words like “autumn” or “school ” are spoken in my vicinity; while others openly mourn along with me.
But this year is different, at least this morning–midway through September. Today, I am willingly relinquishing my rules for prolonging summer (and I am almost welcoming the changes the new season brings.)
Maybe I’ve evolved. Or maybe this is just an intermission of enlightenment, and tomorrow I’ll be back to my old ways–chasing after summer with flip flips or pond dinners and alternately taking her departure personally.
It may be that I’ve had my fill of sadness this summer–from my son’s diving accident at the pond; to my best friend’s collision at the beach; to the loss of innocence at our community Co-op; to the devastation that rocked my state.
I don’t want to spend any more time being sad. I feel so much appreciation and love and tenderness; and in the grace of that flow, even I can surrender summer.
Kelly Salasin, Marlboro, VT 05344
This Vermont Life 
maybe some of that grace will flow my way
(I am wearing white shorts and turquoise flip flops)
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Thx P’t! It takes a village, and I’ll be looking for summer again soon, and you’ll get the credit for holding on 🙂
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I have to agree with you Kelly. I normally look forward to the fall and the sense of order that comes with it….I guess it’s the perpetual student in me. This year, things just haven’t been right. Between the storm devastation and our own community’s loss of a child who took his own life, things are off kilter, frenzied, not right.
I am hoping that this cold snap coming in the next few days will “snap” things back to the way they should be.
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Tammy, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of a young life.
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I am reminded of a phrase I first heard from you, “rocking the seasons”.
For me rocking has always meant, to take comfort and seasons mean change.
It is a good reminder to take ease with change. To gentle ourselves, especially through the upheaval and violence that change can be.
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