End of Summer Nostalgia

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I am dreading the end of summer. Growing up as a goodie two shoes nerd, I always anxiously looked forward to selecting my new Trapper Keepers, notebooks, and Smurf pencil cases as part of the back to school rush. And during college, August brought with it a ceremonial burning of the Blimpie uniform and a new job as a student orientation leader. Even long after time was defined by semesters, late summer meant the perpetual smell of steaming trash on New York's sidewalks and sweaty, jostling commuters packing the subway platforms. I couldn't wat for all that to end.

But now I just want the warm, sunny days to go on and on. The evenings have been cool up at Round Pond and while it makes for cozy sleeping weather, it also makes me realize just how soon my work schedule will pick up and we won't make the weekly trek to the house. My parents joined us this weekend and while it took an insane amount of hours to drive from Upstate NY, I think they enjoyed it, perhaps seeing a bit more of why it's such a special spot for us.

My dad brought along some vegetables from his impressive garden as well as batches of my favorite bright zinnias. On Saturday, we got to work stacking firewood and planting some new bushes, and while it all happened in a totally different setting, it felt like the home from my youth. Slanting sun in the leaves and a peaceful comfortability that made me nostalgic for the past.