Summer’s Good-Bye

I’m not one for long good-byes.  When I decide it’s time to go, I go.  I tell my host my time is up. I thank him or her, or him and her, clean up my dirty dishes, help put things away, tell the others what I nice evening I’ve had, eating, playing games, visiting, whatever, and I head to the door and I leave.  Seems pretty straightforward to me. It’s time to go, so let’s go.

This year Summer followed my advise.  One day last week Summer decided her season was up. She thanked us for the great time, packed up her long, warm, dry days and left.  Fall arrived next day.  One day I was closing the blinds when I left for work, to keep the house cool during the day, and the next I was hauling in wood for a fire.  One day I was hanging clothes on the line to dry and the next I was tossing the wet laundry in the dryer.   One day I was reveling in a warm evening walk and the next I was wearing my down vest and carrying an umbrella.

I kind of don’t like that Summer followed my lead on leaving.  I wish Summer was into a lingering good-bye.  But alas! not so.  John Denver got it exactly right when he wrote:

It seems a shame to see September swallowed by the wind
And more than that it’s oh so sad to see the summer’s end
And though the changing colors are a lovely thing to see
If it were mine to make a change, I think I’d let it be

But I don’t remember hearing anybody asking me

Gravel Road

There’s a crispness in the air this September evening, but the sun is still warm.  Shadows are long.  The days are grower shorter way too quickly. And it’s too quiet. No birds chirping good night. No crickets giving the weather report. Maybe the birds are already in bed and the crickets aren’t up yet.

I take my battered, antique, metal colander from its hook by the sink and walk down my gravel drive to the garden. I love this. I love the sound of footsteps on gravel.  I love the long shadows, the crisp air, and warm sun.  I love imagining I’m a farmer gathering produce from the garden, that will last me all winter.

I pick a rainbow of greens beans, yellow squash, and red and gold tomatoes, filling my colander to overflowing. It won’t last all winter but there’s plenty for a few days.

I enjoy the sound of my steps on the gravel drive as I walk back up to the house. It’s been a very good day.

Exercise With Your Friends

When it comes to starting, and more importantly staying with, an exercise program, doing it with a friend can be the most important factor.

“Working out with friends is better than exercising alone, researchers say. A study of 1,000 women found that 64 per cent of those who run, go to the gym or attend group exercise classes with chums will push themselves harder than if they went alone.

“Those who exercise together train for longer, burn more calories and go to the gym more often.

“The study shows 31 per cent of women consider their friends to be the motivation they need to stay in shape.” Daily Mail Reporter, 15 January 2013

Works for me.  I walk most every day. With my friend, sometimes two friends.  Very faithful friends.  Furry friends. Faithful, furry, four legged friends.