As I write this, most of my grandkids have just finished their first hour or two back at school, finding out who their teachers are, which friends are in their classes (one’s impatient for kindergarten to start, which it does slowly; another’s at a brand new school where new friends might take a few days to make).
My ex-colleagues are also back at podiums (podia?) or in front of screens or figuring out why the data projector’s not working; they’re wrangling class lists and requests to admit extra-to-load students looking for a seat; they’re handing out syllabi (ready for all the times in the weeks ahead when they’ll repeat the words “It’s in the syllabus!”); fielding bad news from the bookstore; and yes, also, feeling the buzz of potential in a new room of learners.
Most of the Septembers of my life have been spent switching rhythms from Summer Mode to Fall’s New Start, and there’s much to be said for the energy of the new season. . . However, this is my 9th September since retirement, and every “day after Labour Day” since 2015, I feel more strongly that we might be Back at School, but it’s not yet Fall. Not until the equinox, which apparently this year falls on Friday, September 22nd, shortly before midnight. . .
And given my heightened consciousness about the number of summers I (may or may not) have left, I’m going to insist on eking every drop of summer out of the next two-and-a-bit weeks.
What that means for the blog and for you is that Summer Programming will continue, stubbornly. Summer OOTDS and Summer Sights and Distillations of Summer Experiences will prevail for the next few posts. I hope you’ll stick around nonetheless. . . Autumn will arrive eventually. As it does. . .
This morning, in fact, back at the keyboard I’m having to admit that the morning is decidedly cooler. I went out for my post-prandial walk last night without a sweater and had to pick up my pace considerably to stay warm. . . . So there’s a bit of bravado in my Resistance to Fall, but I’m not giving up Summer until I’ve shared a few more photos. As I do, I’m reflecting again on what to put on my chasse aux trésors d’été, my “summer treasure hunt.” After wistfully remembering erstwhile island summers in this post several weeks ago, I’ve been focusing on the simple pleasures to be found in an urban summer, right now.
And so much of those pleasures are found in walking. Small pleasures, such as spotting a rabbit hopping across a shady lawn . . .
or noticing favourite colour / plant combinations in neighbourhood gardens. — I’ve always thought that a rose in this shade of pink makes a delectable companion to the purpled blue of ceanothus — which, up here is generally known as “California lilac. The healthy green foliage of both shrubs is the perfect go-between (a former neighbour at my old island home used to grow this combination throughout her garden to stunning effect).
Another simple pleasure of the season is the ease of dressing — in clothes that let skin feel breezes and sunshine both. I love dresses that move with at least a bit of swish (hmmm, can linen really swish? It swings rather, perhaps) . . . and I love wearing them with bare legs (some of you take bare legs for granted as at least a three-season possibility, but once the rains begin here, they’re a non-starter, and rains will prevail from October to May).
I will love wearing my oxfords and my boots, beginning in a few weeks, when Fall officially starts, but until then I’m still tickled to be wearing sandals and sneakers. . .
and strolling in them to admire the second bloom of the local magnolia trees . . .
I had my husband as walking partner the day I snapped this photo and introduced him to the astonishingly rich fragrance of a magnolia bloom. Imagine — 72 years old, and he had no idea what gorgeous ways these had with a nostril. . . 😉
Nor are they hard on the eyes, right?
I had to look up (and then gently pull a branch down, have Pater hold on to it while I snapped a photo) for the magnolia bloom, but I look down as well while I’m walking. Reward: I spotted this stencilled giraffe in multiples all across the Cambie Street Bridge. A small pleasure, and a potent one; never squander the opportunity to smile.
I’ll stop here for now, but I have at least one more summer-filled post for you. Should you have any simple summer pleasures you’ve checked off on whatever your Summer Treasure Hunt listed, let us know in the comments section below. And you could also let me know how you manage La Rentrée. Are you also stubbornly clinging to these last summer days or are you eager to embrace sweaters, boots, and shorter days? Of course, you may be reading this as Winter turns to Spring — which is an altogether different proposition, but also an interesting transition, so if that’s you, do chime in.
xo,
f
Like you, I try to hang onto summer for as long as I can! I’m presently in the process of getting the trailer ready for one more short camping trip.
Author
Good for you — squeezing every drop of summer before your long winter!
Gorgeous magnolia blooms and that dress is perfect for summer!
Schools back and to me that signals summer is finished…my feeling of the end of summer stems from my days working in the schools.
Am glad to be retired so these last few days can be savoured at a leisurely pace.
Enjoy your walks….
Leslie
Author
Yes, after a lifetime of back-to-school at the beginning of September (often teaching in south-facing rooms without air-conditioning, trying to speak to be heard over an antique fan while it was 24 degrees outside, 30-something inside, But Fall, supposedly, not Summer!!) it’s good to be able to savour the transition between the seasons.
Enjoy your garden, much happier after some cleansing rain, right?
The first self photo of this post is in my opinion, the most beautiful one I have seen of you thus far. It shows a comfortable and confident woman. It brought a smile.
Author
Aw, thank you, Patricia! I went back to the photo to see what you saw — and I realize I’m looking right at the camera (in the mirror, that is), rather than down at my phone. I rarely give a direct gaze to the camera, will have to try that more often.
I realized this morning that I’ve been retired so long the first day of school slipped by unnoticed … by me anyway. Maybe the fact that we are enduring another unseasonable heat wave influenced me. I’m finding myself in a bit of a funk since we can back from New Brunswick, feeling lethargic and not interested in fall shopping, or embarking on travel wardrobe planning which must start soon We leave for Portugal in three weeks. I hope my emotional funk has disappeared by then. 🙂
P.S. I love that yellow dress, Frances.
Author
My experience after the loss of my dad, first, and then my mom, was that no matter how expected, nor even how welcome in terms of releasing a loved one from pain and exhaustion, the death of a parent takes time to process, and the grief catches us in surprising ways. Be gentle with yourself, whatever that might mean for you.
Portugal is a good place for shaking off “emotional funk.” We loved it! (I didn’t realize our trips overlapped so closely — we leave at the end of the month as well.)
p.s. thank you! The dress is actually something like lime green, IRL
Last week I decided summer was over for this year . Not that it amounted to much after a spring heatwave which annoyed the garden . Linens were put in the loft along with sandals & an electric fan . Our unpredictable british weather then threw one more heatwave at us . I’m not complaining though . I met up with old work friends yesterday & we sat outside at a pavement cafe in the centre of the city in unexpected sunshine . I even wore one of my few dresses , a dark denim shirt dress with a tie waist plus white trainers & matching bare white legs . We had a lovely time . We all agreed that we couldn’t cope with constant heat but for a little while it’s blissful .
Those magnolias are exquisite but I love the first photo too .
Author
I noticed that you’ve been having a heatwave — after your summer, I wouldn’t be complaining either, but it’s a bit cavalier of whoever’s in charge 😉
Glad you’re making the most of it!
Thanks re the photos — I want my daughter to make me a copy of the first one and frame it — seems quintessentially summer to me!
It’s a liminal period, ain’t it just, this feeling of being suspended between seasons, and sitting on a sky-high pile of remembered back-to-school moments. I’ll likely never give up wanting sharp pencils, a fresh ream of paper, new loafers, apple-and-peanut butter snacks …
Thanks for reminding me, Frances! Happy almost autumn. xx Deborah
Author
Yes! so very evocative — even just the smell of those pencils, freshly sharpened. . . and the sound of school pencil sharpeners. . . the memory of the manual pencil sharpeners, the precise kinaesthetic memory of pinching the clamps together to allow entry of the pencil, then turning that handle. . . Happy Late Summer to you!
I agree and I also stubbornly hold on to summer. Returning to school once felt synonymous with wearing new plaids and sweaters but here in the lower mainland early September is still very warm. Last year we had high 20’s into October with the first snow a few weeks later on November 6 – before our first frost date! It is much cooler this week – finally – so time to get the last of the summer garden chores completed and also be sure to enjoy as many patios as possible. Yesterday was lunch and a bottle of wine on the patio of Cactus Club and today will be a salad on our own patio – maybe with a blanket – but outside none the less! Time passes so quickly – no need to rush out of summer. Fall and winter are long enough.
Author
Yes! September is so often still (or finally!) warm here (although not this year, at least not this week). To me it was for a decade or two the month when my kids were likely to lose a new sweater or jacket, needing it for a morning’s crisp air but then abandoning it outside at recess in the mid-morning heat. . .
I applaud your commit to patio lunches for a while longer — walking in our neighbourhood at dusk this week, I notice many are as stubborn as we are and linger at picnic tables finishing their late dinners, snatches of their conversation mixing with the sound of the dry leaves my feet are kicking aside. . .
I am entranced to discover that you were able to introduce your husband to the scent of magnolia! Such unexpected surprises are treasures – I myself recently learned that lantana leaves are also scented with a wonderful fresh/tart/wild perfume, and I keep rubbing them when I pass by.
Author
I had to look up “lantana” — and I see they are in the Verbena family, so I’m guessing I might have an idea of their scent. Now I want to find some leaves to rub!
I too am having my 9th September since retiring and am so happy that I do not have to start another school year – especially this year, with insane school closures due to structural problems. Getting ready for my daughter’s hen weekend and feeling a little anxious about it – can I keep up? These days I can do all sorts of things but find that recovery and resilience is a longer process. However, on we go. The weather is unseasonably hot, muggy and that means difficult nights as I toss and turn to get cool but the mornings are lovely, even if not totally smelling of summer. A strange transition. I am also making my winter coat, which seems very odd when I am trying to keep the house cool and airy. Hey ho.
Author
Exciting weekend for you, your daughter, and her friends. I’ve seen a few hen weekends in action when travelling; once, in Bordeaux, the morning after the night before. . . sitting near us at lunch, considerably worse for the wear — good luck! There’d be no question for me — I can’t keep up and would use my trump card of being 70 — you don’t have on of those and as far as I can tell, you have boundless energy and will be egging the youngsters on in the wee hours — More Karaoke! 😉
Your winter coat is going to be gorgeous! But yes, would be weird to work on in the heat you’re having. . . Mind, you’ll be needing it soon enough. . .
Good to see you back!
I’ve been driving back and forth across the province all summer and watching the season unfold in the skies, the vegetation and the crops…and this week they told me it’s late summer, so I’ll accept that.
The current debate: should I cave and put the duvet inside its cover? Hm. Maybe that will encourage warmer nights. Such things have been known to happen.
Author
Thanks! Good to be back!
We’re not ready for the duvet to get into its cover yet, but the temp’s been dropping to 12 the last few nights, and we can finally close the windows against the night-time sirens and other obnoxious city noises. . . Sounds as if we should all have a big weather-balancing auction, do some spirited trading. . .
My summer at the sea has just begun yesterday (and yes,I hear you,how many beautiful summers will be here?), so I’m in the vacation mood,not “back to school” one. Your dress is beautiful, as well as sandals, I’m living in linen dresses now
And the pause to smell magnolia flowers……priceless :)!
Dottoresss
Author
Brava! I’m so happy to thiink of you by the sea where you’re happiest — I don’t need to say to you, “Enjoy!”, do I?!
Thank you my friend :):):)!
Just to say that I’m alone for first few days (I can’t remember if I was alone at the seaside ever!) and it is so beautiful and reinvigorated!
I am meeting with friends for coffees and lunch/dinner,but not to have to do anything….even chores are easy!
D.
last week it was beginning to feel like Fall. I was annoyed with myself because I had not yet worn my summer dresses enough, and now it was back to sweater weather. Well, these last three days have felt like some of the hottest and most sticky ones of the season. A friend of mine, probably the most eco minded person I know admitted that for the first time this year he actually turned on his air conditioner. It is supposed to get cooler tomorrow, and when I came in from my very sweaty and somewhat abbreviated walk thee was a message from a friend inviting me to one last outdoor concert. I get the new beginnings feel of Autumn but still I want to hang on to summer.
Author
I readily admit I could not tolerate the weather you’re describing and might be wishing Fall would hurry up. . . but I’m glad to hear you’re taking it in stride and getting to wear your summer dresses a few more days. And an outdoor concert at the end of summer is the perfect way to stretch the season!
For the first time since my retirement four years ago I’m happy not to be in the classroom. How to explain US politics to a group of undergrads?? Florida has been so hot and humid this summer, and it continues. The hurricane last week wiped out so many small towns on the coast that really should not be rebuilt, but they are the last of old Florida and we will lose so much history without them. We’re told to expect more storms because the ocean water is so hot (100F). I wonder if fall will come this year.
Author
You have all my sympathy — which is also a shared horror for what we’re all facing. Perhaps this is part of the reason I want to hang on to a certain idea of summer, as all expectations of seasons and weather are being destabilized. . .
I had already put away my summer dresses for the year, but a few days ago I had to take them out again, because we have been having temperatures of around 30C again. In general, I prefer warm weather and I am not at all keen on wearing socks and sweaters again, but this heatwave is making me feel a bit uneasy. For me, hot temperatures go together with long evenings, not with sunset at eight. And the long shadows in the mornings and afternoons, the golden autumn light, do not fit in either. So though I share your desire to cling to the last warm days, I also feel that there is something fundamentally wrong. And I do not find it difficult to guess what it is…