August

A good day for a walk, so glad you could join me.  Sometimes I get things on my mind and this is one of those days when I need a good friend to listen and share some of my ponderings.

  I like the month of August.  Nothing special has to happen in August except birthdays.  Trips to the beach or wherever are winding down and those who are in school, college or graduate school are busy preparing for another year.  It seems that August has a way of making us slow the pace a bit, look around and notice that already some of the leaves on trees are beginning to fade.  The days have begun to get a wee bit shorter with daylight a little earlier and the sunset a little earlier also.  That is fine with me.  I do not like waking up at 5 a.m. to daylight nor do I like to go to bed at daylight.  August seems to get things back in a more correct order.

As we walk along, there seems to be a special quiet about August.  The birds are not frantically screaming and looking around for a place to nest for the expectant moms of birdland as they were in May and June.  I no longer have to fight the birds from selecting their nests in my decorative wreaths or any of my planters.  That is a relief.  The breeze among the trees appears a bit more gentle now that the fierce summer storms have hopefully subsided.  Most of the vegetables in the gardens have been harvested, the fruits have been enjoyed in pies and any freezing and canning in usually finished by middle August.

August is also the month for the last days of summer.  It is the month for the last beach trip, the last tube ride down the river, the last of the barefoot strolls through the soft grass.  It is the last of extra time off from work, and maybe finishing that last summer novel.

August ie a great shopping month for all those summer clothes you would like to have next summer.  In a way, August allows you a glimpse into another year.  Of course I will buy that lovely outfit I have been waiting to be reduced!  I will enjoy wearing that next summer!

If I get really energetic, I may even use the calm August to begin cleaning closets to prepare for the cooler months of September, October, and on into the winter.  It is also a very good month to do that extra cleaning of windows.  There is no yellow pollen in August and it is not very hard to find a good day to work outdoors.

August also seems to be the perfect time for reunions:  Family reunions, old high school reunions, college reunions, and homecomings for many churches.  As the pace slows and summer harvest is completed, it is easier to call those who wish to renew family ties and acquaintances. August is a good time to come together.

Speaking of high school reunions, mine will be this coming Saturday.  Many of those who attended and graduated high school in 1958 will once again come together for a renewal and remembrance of those times we shared so long ago.  There will be many who will not be there due to poor health, disabilities and of course those who have deceased.  This will be our last five-year reunion.  It has been decided that since we are all Septuagenarians, perhaps meeting every year or two would be better.

And so it is with sweet August...........simple days.........renewed friendships..........shopping.................cleaning......................and...............August is...........

MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!

Oh the pondering of it all......................................................see you next time.