A few nights ago, I walked out of my weekly class at 8:00 PM, with my friend, Serena. We groaned in unison as we noticed that the streetlights were on! It was dark! Our precious summer sunlight is shrinking. I told Serena how much I love summer, and how much I hate to see it end. She agreed wholeheartedly. Serena told me that earlier that day she was on a Zoom call with about thirty other people. As an icebreaker, the participants were asked to name their favorite season. She told me she was the only one who named summer! We were shocked. She said, “Lots of people said they don’t like summer because of the humidity. Honey, I spent the first 30 years of my life in New Orleans, so don’t even think about complaining about humidity.”
Yes, it’s coming - the season of fall, which I know makes all sorts of football fans and admirers of colored leaves giddy with excitement, but it only puts me in a funk. Because, of course, it means summer is ending. I love summer – I mean, what’s not to love? Wearing shorts, not wearing a jacket, walking without fear of ice underfoot, riding my bike, and yes, playing Pickleball outdoors. It all comes to a screeching halt once that doggone north wind starts to blow.
Last night, my husband did such a kind act, it made me fall in love with him all over again. He took me on a boat ride. John has a fishing boat – he loves to fish, which I do not. But last night he asked, “Would you like to take ride on the lake? No fishing. Just riding.” I quickly took him up on his offer, and we donned our caps and sunglasses, packed one beer apiece, and hauled that fishing boat to a nearby lake. First, John drove us around the lake at top fishing boat speed. Then he slowed it down, way down, so we could admire the houses and boats and various “toys” of the lake shore residents.
This was my farewell to summer. It gave me great JOY to be on one of our beautiful Minnesota lakes - taking in the last rays of summer sunshine with the breeze in my face, and the water just turbulent enough to rock us gently as we sped along.
I hate to see summer end, but a boat ride was the perfect way to say farewell.
Note: Actually, we’re leaving for an official two week “farewell to summer” tour in a few days. Heading East to visit some glorious National Parks. I’ll be back to blog in October!