August
As I walked out of work this evening the familiar wall of humidity broke my concentration from my grocery list (I think we need diapers… and bananas). At once I felt an overwhelming relief and anxiousness that August was here, and showing off in full force. As a person who sweats more than a normal amount, I’m pleased to say I am, at times, enjoying the thickness of the air. The wildflowers are putting on their best performance of the year, and the lightning bugs seem extra spunky as they dance across our front yard.
“August” hangs in the air, whispered from the mouths of friends with school age children who “can’t believe Summer is almost over.” Most seem sad at the closing of the Summer months, and at the same time grateful to get the kids back in school, and back in to a routine. Regret hangs on some lips; those that didn’t get in as many live music shows or float trips as they would have liked… myself included. However, I quietly fantasize about the promise of cooler evenings, the crunch of leaves under my feet, and the pumpkins growing in our compost pile that will soon decorate our front porch.
As a student I remember the excitement and anticipation of going back to school, but willing those sweet Summer evenings with old friends to never end. I know in a few short years I’ll also be spending these final weeks in August checking off school supply lists, and heading out for the latest trends for back to school clothes.
As a Mom of a small toddler I am experiencing the slowness of August… or maybe that’s just been my choice. We get to go on bigger adventures with our daughter. THIS Summer we don’t have to stress as much about sleep schedules and wake times, etc. I find myself saying yes much more often, but also anticipating our family needs, and actively working to avoid social burnout. (I talked about that recently with my podcast partner Jessica on our Mountain Maryland Mamas podcast HERE).
On these evenings our family decides to stay at home, I’m relishing being a lazy amateur gardener. I see folks on Instagram planting Fall gardens this month, but I’m just now reaping the benefits of my earlier June labors. I admire those farmers and gardeners who are putting in the work for late Fall harvests, and I imagine that perhaps next year I’ll add more to my system, and plan my own Fall harvest. Tonight, though, it’ll be me, a few freshly picked cherry tomatoes, my book, and the hammock…watching the slow August sunset over the park.
