Let August Finish

The Last days of summer. Photo by my son

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Annie Dillard

Suddenly, the calendar has sped forward to the end of August. The hot days at the beginning of the month will soon cool and slide into the evening chill of autumn. Although it’s still officially summer, our minds begin to shift to thoughts of a favorite sweater, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and the warm glow of a fire in the fireplace.

When I was growing up, we didn’t go back to school until after Labor Day. August still held the promise of an afternoon swimming in one of the many lakes within walking distance of our house, or taking out a rowboat for a leisurely ride just before sunset. It was a time of roasting hot dogs and marshmallows around a carefully made bonfire before the last of the tourists departed. We were friends with many of the kids who came with their families every summer, and we knew they would be leaving soon. We wanted to make every moment last.

The dog days of summer brought what was often hot, humid weather. When we were small children, we would put on our swimsuits and run outside into the warm, late-afternoon rain. I don’t think we ever worried that it would soon be over and we would be off to classes and homework once again. We didn’t see an end.

Today, kids are already heading back to school, and summer seems to be over almost before August has finished with us. Fall is my favorite season, and I admit to pushing at the days a little, wanting to get to the cool nights and crisp, clear mornings of September. I’m ready for sweaters and changing leaves, for that first morning when you step outside and realize the air feels different.

Sometimes, though, I think of my grandmother saying, “Don’t wish your life away.”It’s a simple bit of advice, but the older I get, the more meaning it seems to have. How much of our lives do we spend looking toward the next thing? When we’re young, we can’t wait to grow up. We look forward to birthdays, vacations, graduations, weddings, new homes, retirement. Even something as ordinary as waiting for autumn can become another way of hurrying time along. As we get older, we realize time seems quite capable of hurrying without our help.

There are still a few days of August left. The afternoons are still warm. The evenings still hold their light a little longer. There may even be time for one more hot dog on the grill, one more evening sitting outside, one more summer sunset.

September will arrive soon enough. For now, perhaps I’ll take my grandmother’s advice and let August finish what it started.

Peace be with you.

If you’re new here, welcome. I write about aging with grace, finding beauty in everyday life, and the quiet moments that remind us what matters most. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by.