I remember someone once said that as we age, time begins to move more rapidly. And no other time of year does that happen then the month of August. Even though we are days in, August will scream by like an express train.
I always dreaded the end of summer and still do.
There won’t be all the time in August for the things I wanted to do in June that I kicked to July only to kick to August. August is the last stand of summer here in Chicago. And even August turns out to be shortened by school starting by the 22nd of the month. Back in the day, when I was a kid, school didn’t start until after Labor Day. Now, we are cheated out of a week of summer vacation to anticipate snow days in January and February. But since Covid, even that is a moot point, since most schools could go online for a day if there was a blizzard. It’s totally unfair for everyone and I don’t like it one bit.
I always dreaded the end of summer and still do.
My list of summer things to do always starts piling up in August. Days at the beach, biking and hiking. All of these things get held up in order to fulfill the other things that need to be done. Painting the outside of the barn. Fixing rotting wood. Waging war on the grape vines that threaten to take over the trees. Replacing broken fencing. Cleaning out the garage. Getting things out of the house that are sitting around taking up space. Those last two items require negotiations with Annie. I got into big trouble with her two weeks ago for donating a portable playpen to the church rummage sale. Apparently you never know when you might need one, even if your kid is nine years old.
I always dreaded the end of summer and still do.
August was always a blue month for me growing up. The McHenry County fair took place the first week of August. For all of the excitement, it signaled that the summer was on the wane. Once the midway lights were turned off, the animals hauled back to the farms, nothing was left but to wait for the beginning of school and watch the corn start to yellow in the fields.
I always dreaded the end of summer and still do.
Now, living in the city, that feeling is more of an urgency of needing to do a dozen things at once. Be a fun dad to Aine. Be a good dog-dad to Capers. Be a loving and doting husband to Annie. Have some family time out in the warm weather. Those are the top things, I know.
And I also know that I will be out there, painting the fence in November as the first few flakes of snow filter down, finishing the chores of August.
I always dreaded the end of summer and still do.
Martin's other weekly post can be found here.