Another Summer has Come and Gone

Monday, September 05, 2011

Labor Day in Michigan is like hand reaching out to a wall mounted light switch and flipping the switch down. Labor Day clicks off to summer invariably. Looking upward and to the west the sky is grey. Today the temperature will struggle to be in the sixties. Many days will follow like this.

As I took about a 40 minute walk through the town, empty now with those celebrating the holiday gone to points north, there were trees that had gone from green to red. So quickly the color will fill in the rest of what is green in the picture now with yellow and orange and dusky shades of brown. One day not too far off those colors will be gone and the trees will be bare. There may be a couple of warm days between now and mid-October but the switch has been flipped.

Journeys to apple orchards and hockey rinks await. The transition of clothing is coming too. First will be the hooded fleeced shells and light denim jackets. Next there will be the addition of a down vest to the ensemble. Shortly thereafter will come the use of gloves and hats. As early November rolls in the bulkier coats will come out of the closet. I joke not. Halloween is always a dicey proposition with the gear ranging from costume alone to full winter jacket over the clown outfit. Sleet, snow or Indian summer; October 31 can be any and all of these things.
Summer has vanished like a quick afternoon.

All the months of my life are now like fleeting hours. Just a moment ago I turned to do a few simple tasks and when I turned back from my work my life has flown by.