Alas, the end of summer is upon us. But to be honest, we’ve been feeling it up here in Mahoosuc Mills for a couple of weeks now. Though it heats up during the day, there’s a definate nip in the air, once the sun goes down. “Good sleeping weather,” Charlie calls it. In the evening, I make sure to close all the windows (except in the bedroom), so it’s not too chilly in the house, come morning. And our first shipment of mums has arrived at the A&P. I haven’t surrendered to buying any yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
The Moose Megantic High football team is running drills down to the field. God, they must be sweating buckets in those uniforms.
It’s been years since I waited at the bus stop on the first day of school, red and black plaid lunch box in hand, all decked out in my new clothes. Yet, I still feel that sense of anticipation, of new beginnings, come September.
Frankly, it’s a relief to get back to a regular schedule. Summers have a way of being just go, go, go. What with all the cookouts, family visits, outdoor concerts and the like, seems like every other night we’re off doing something, and most weekends are scheduled to the max. It’s a lot of fun, of course, but I’m looking forward to getting my eating under control, getting back into my exercise routine. What am I saying? I don’t really have an exercise routine. But I’m thinking about getting one, ‘cause I can hear my fat jeans taunting me from the bottom drawer of my dresser, “Try us on, Ida. We dare you! We double dare you!”
Oh, God! I’m just not ready for that ordeal. The road from June to September may have been paved with good intentions, but now it’s littered with empty Ben & Jerry containers, and those plastic cups from the Peanut Buster Parfaits down to the DQ.
Soon it’ll be pumpkin time, the leaves turning yellow, orange and red, then falling from the trees. And apples, fresh picked: delicious as is or baked in a pie.
But not now. Right now it’s September in Maine: sunflowers, fresh tomatoes, corn, and zucchini bread which is sweet, but counts as a vegetable. The sky’s bright and clear. The days warm. The nights cool. And there’s a sense of anticipation in the air. A time for new beginnings.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Here Ida Tell It: September in Maine