Hard to believe another summer over
It happens every year.
As Labor Day rolls around, everyone says, “Where did summer go.”
Somehow that special time from Memorial Day to Labor Day seems to speed by quicker every year.
Growing up, summer seemed to last forever. The days were long and full of endless fun. We’d go to the playground in the morning, swim in the afternoon and then hang out with family members, neighbors and friends in the evening. In between we played baseball games of all sorts, enjoyed numerous carnivals and fairs and attended a variety of picnics and family outings. Summer was wonderful, and time just sort of stopped. You had all the time in the world to do anything you wanted, or so it seemed.
But now there doesn’t seem to be enough time to do anything. You put the porch furniture out and it seems like a day or two later, it’s time to put it back in. Of course there’s still a lot of fun to be had with vacations, picnics, cookouts and baseball games. But it all seems to go so fast, that there’s not enough time to enjoy anything.
And the end of August leaves us longing for more summer as we realize the days of walking around in shorts and t-shirts are coming to an end.
Whatever the reason, there’s a definite feeling of sadness that comes over most of us as we reach the first Monday of September.
It’s funny, though, because there are certainly plenty of things to enjoy the rest of the year. After all, fall has football, and we all have our favorite high school, college and pro teams. Around here, that means the start of the season for the Steelers, and who doesn’t love rooting for the Black and Gold as they try to win another Super Bowl.
Fall also has some of the best weather of the year with temperatures not too hot and not too cold.
Then, there’s Halloween and Thanksgiving followed in quick order by Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and who doesn’t love those holidays. In fact, some say the best week of the year is the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Now, the six weeks between New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day is probably the toughest stretch of the year. I hate winter more and more every year, but you still have things like basketball and the NFL playoffs to keep your mind off the weather.
Eventually spring arrives, some years a little earlier than others. That’s followed by St. Patrick’s Day, one of my favorite days of the year, Easter and Mother’s Day. Then, before you know it, Memorial Day comes along and it’s summer again.
So, what is it about summer that inspires such longing. Remember it’s far from perfect. Don’t you hate waiting for the air to come on in your car as you’re sweating profusely? Or how about getting caught outside in a torrential thunderstorm?
No, just like all the other seasons summer has its pluses and minuses. But for whatever reasons the pluses seem to far outweigh the minuses.
Maybe it goes back to those summers we spent as kids growing up and the memories that come back with each sunny day. Well my childhood memories are awesome, but equally compelling are the memories of summers spent with my kids. Back then, I worked the nightshift and the only real time I had to spend with my children was in the summer.
We made most of it with a terrific combination of Little League baseball, swimming and playing whiffleball in our backyard and going to Kennywood and Idlewild amusement parks among other great places.
In particular, I remember going with my daughter on Dad and Me weekend camping trips to the Girl Scouts’ Camp Henry Kaufman near Ligonier. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything in the world.
But those days are long gone, and we’ve all moved on to bigger things. Maybe it’s the realization that another summer has come and gone and you still haven’t done half the things you wanted to do. Or maybe it’s just the realization that another summer has passed and you’re another year older. But whatever the reason, we’ll be asking ourselves the same question next year, “Where did summer go?”
Mark O’Keefe is the executive editor of HeraldStandard.com. He can be reached by email at mo’keefe@heraldstandard.com, by regular mail at 8-18 Church St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401 or by phone at 724-439-7569.