I’m not the biggest fan of the summer. I don’t like being covered in sweat when I get to work. I don’t like being devoured by evil hungry mosquitoes. And I despise flying beetles sneaking into my home getting caught in my ceiling fan’s down draft and landing in my sleeping face. I also don’t like the crazy high phone bills that the electric company sends out seemingly every week (because comfort in the summer comes at a premium). I don’t like hurricane season which is pretty much the entire summer. Summer sequels and remakes make for a tedious three months of “big’ movies. All of my favorite TV shows are in reruns because I don’t have cable. Airline ticket prices go up. Gas goes up. Temp goes up. Again, not a fan of summer.

But, I do find myself wondering where the summer went.

I think I made it to the park with my son four times this summer. The family and I did not get to a beach at all. And I may have barbecued twice through the entirety of the dog days. I’ve been so tired from all my projects and the job that pays me that I lost track of time. Now I find myself scratching my head and saying “tomorrow is Labor Day, really?” And “Dev starts third grade next week, really?” I may not care for summer much but I do care about my family and I am wondering if I should have had more fun with them and less work and recovering from work. They are an understanding duo and they know that I keep busy now as a sacrifice for what I hope to give them in the future. Still, the summer is over and I don’t have much to show for it in terms of family memories aside from the cruise we took two months ago.

That said, the end of the summer means the start of autumn, and I XOXO autumn! Cool weather, pumpkin and apple picking with the fam. Halloween costumes. Better clothes options for discerning men such as myself because let’s face it – men in shorts, t-shirts and mandals are just not sexy. Of course there is also sleeping without the AC (screw you electric company!). And lets not forget that the autumn is the gateway to the holiday season and the only thing I like more than the holiday season is N-O-T-H-I-N-G. In other words the fall = family.

So I guess what I am saying is that I am grateful for the summer because without it ending I’d have no fall. OK we’d have no fall because apparently it’s not mine and I must share it with the ingrates of the northeast who get the gift of perfect weather in NYC and instead long for hazy, hot, and humid. It’s like upgrading from a Hyundai to a 500 Benz and longing for the days when you could fit your stupid (but dependable) little Elantra into just about any parking space on the street. I welcome the fall, the fat orange harvest moon, the Maize Maze at the farm, bad horror movie marathons, and funky boots.

Bye summer. By the grace of God I’ll see you next year!

(Yes I know the summer actually ends on September 22nd but for some reason we like calling Labor Day the end of summer so this is my end of summer post. *smile*)