Yesterday, Labor Day, a
single brown leaf floated on the surface of our pool, like something out of an
e.e. cummings poem. That is the official sign that summer has ended. (I should
have stopped barbecuing immediately and left the meat to rot for the winter.)
Well, thank God that’s
over. I am certainly ready to leave behind the drudgery of pool season and let
fall begin. I certainly welcomed the rainy days and cool nights in August,
which meant that we had to curtail our swimming for the past few weeks. This,
combined with not opening the pool until the third week in June due to repairs,
meant we lost about a month of pool time in total. I didn't mind at all, even
though we spent so much money on a new pump and tank and patching a leak that
my credit card now groans audibly every time I take it out of my wallet.
No, I don’t mind the
arrival of autumn one bit. At least I won’t have another awkward night floating
in the deep end with my husband, watching the moon or white clouds slipping over
the starry black sky, or whatever crap is happening above our heads.
Other things I’m glad to be
rid of as summer dies: Beach trips, watching cumulonimbus clouds build in the
west before exploding into a thunderstorm, pleasant breezes, blooming flowers, eating
lunch and reading a book outside, barbecues, lightning bugs, backyard parties
with friends, comfortable clothes, trips to Rita’s for water ice or ice cream, and
having hours of daylight after getting home from work. I’ll trade all that for
having to put on a sweater, 5 p.m. sunsets, and walking outside to smell … autumn
smells.
What a relief. Now if you’ll
excuse me, I’m off to pretend to care about pumpkin.
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