Summer’s Time Ticks Away
This one’s gonna hurt, please be seated prior to reading what comes next. If you have a trusted friend or loved one, call them for comfort. Here it is, summer is almost done, at least from my perspective.
You are probably under the illusion that summer has only started. The misunderstanding is understandable; graduation ceremonies were held within the last few weeks, highway construction projects have only just begun and you may have mowed your lawn only four or five times so far. Make no mistake though, summer’s time is short. It brings me no pleasure to make this announcement.
It actually does give me a little pleasure. Summer is not my favorite season. There are many seasonal levels of discomfort, I give each season a pain scale of 0-10. Spring and Fall are painless for me, winter probably ranks a 3. For me, summer is a 9 on the seasonal pain scale. I would rank it a 10 however, much like the actual pain scale you see at your doctor’s office, a seasonal summer pain scale of 10 is reserved for women who are pregnant.
It’s early June, how can summer be done? What was the indicator of summer’s end? For me, it was the notice we received last week of the registration period for the propane summer fill. For those who heat with electricity, wood, natural gas or just snuggle with dogs or cats for heat, I will explain the summer fill. Propane is usually cheapest during the summer months, due to low demand, which allows customers to take advantage of low prices to fill their tanks. Summer fill is designed to top off each customers’ tank before the winter home heating season arrives.
So there it is, the assurance of winter’s arrival is so certain that most of us will bet a full tank of propane on it. Others may not call the start of winter as closely as I, however they still bet their money that it’s coming to a thermostat near you. It is only the time-table that separates our perspective.
I recently wrote about the limited time we have to live our lives. This column is the same premise on a tighter time-table. Summer is precious and fleeting, as is all time. Most start summer fun during spring. There was no spring in 2023, only a downshift to summer.
Therefore, summer will have to bear the full weight of the joy of spring on its own. It is only a short time before we all hear the pitter patter of little steps from brand new plaid shirts and pumpkin spice lattes which are only about a trimester away.
Summer is a slice of irreplaceable life to most, so get out there and enjoy it. Eat ice cream, read a book in the shade, bale some hay or just enjoy the freedom of the outdoors without several layers of clothing. I’ll catch up with you on Labor Day, when mother nature births the most beautiful baby of the four seasons-fall. At least by my calendar.
