Welcome to September

I’m ready for September and have been for several weeks. I know there are many who don’t want to think about summer ending and will cling to every last bit of sunshine. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the sun and have more energy when it’s hanging around out there, but I’m ready for cooler nights, the chance to watch my Iowa Hawkeyes play football, falling leaves, the smell of the first rain (it has been 56 [!] days since we’ve had any measurable rain) and everyone either advocating for or complaining about pumpkin spice everything. In case you’re wondering, I’m on the pro side of that debate. Because – why not?

I’ve already shed the melancholy that summer brings me due to fact that it was John’s last season. That stretch of time brings back so much love and so much hurt from his final months. His first hospitalization that year started on Memorial Day and his memorial service was the last week of August, so for me I consistently experience summer doldrums that stretch from Memorial to memorial. Even though the weather is marvelous, the activities are fun, and my chance to spend time with people I care about are numerous, there is always this little cloud of memory and longing that rains on my parade from the end of May to my birthday. I hope that someday it won’t weigh me down as it has for the past five years, but in acknowledging that it might, perhaps I have won half the battle.

However, September ushers in a new start for me. Summer wanes, taking with it all the dates I can’t forget; and Autumn steps in, bringing with it bright colors, football games, the chance to wear something other than short sleeves, and holidays that start cropping up right and left. The nights get cooler, the rain comes back, and school starts again. The beginning of a new school year has always been a magical time for me. In fact, the back-to-school season should have its picture in the illustrated dictionary next to the word possibility. Kids, families, and schools get to begin again. And it’s a time that brings with it a world of marvelous this year thoughts for me.

As a child, I was always going to make this year be the one in which I studied harder and procrastinated less. I’d tell myself this year (and then I’d insert whatever personality trait or work habit I wanted to fix) and the thought was always exciting. I had the chance to create a whole new me. In reality, the number of times I didn’t make the change far outnumbered the times that I did. In fact, I’m still waiting for some better personality traits and work habits, but you never know! This year, it might happen.

The new school year is a more exciting transition for me than the actual New Year we celebrate in January. There are no strings attached to making resolutions plans for the school year like there are at the beginning of a calendar year. At that time, if I make a mistake on January 2, my entire resolution is kaput and my self-esteem goes with it. But for some reason, when I make the same type of plan for the school year and blow it, there is always another day, another assignment, another game to be played—another chance.

So. Welcome to September. Welcome to the world of possibilities. Welcome to this year thoughts and all the amazing things we can do with them. Count the ones that work out and save the ones that don’t for the next one that comes along.

And for those of you who mourn the coming end of summer, I’m so sorry; but just think of all the pumpkin spice treats you can now enjoy…

My best to all of you, MARNA