Goodbye Summer

Emerson, the latest family addition.

It was a spectacular summer season filled with fun, hard work, and unbelievable heat.

I handled the heat better when I was younger. I remember running during the hottest parts of the day without it bothering me. These days, the one-two punch of North Carolina’s heat and humidity took its toll, driving our daily runs into the darkness of early morning.

This fishing season was great, and I enjoyed a new kayak brand and design that continuously performed above my expectations. Bass, large and smallmouth, sunfish, catfish, pikes, and white perch filled the boat.

Yard work is always busy, as the yard, pasture, and orchard require continuous mowing and clearing. We put our chainsaw to use cutting down dead trees, and a new industrial strength blower made keeping the trails clean a breeze.

One of our dogs had some health issues that scared us, but he’s on his way toward recovery. My wife rescued a cat we named Emerson. We’ve dubbed my writing shed Emerson’s Place, paying homage to both our new kitten and Ralph Waldo Emerson, the eminent writer who made Henry David Thoreau’s stay at Walden possible.

The end of summer is like the end of winter, only on the other side of the temperature spectrum. The last weeks seem long and unbearable, as we’re all waiting for the temperature to change. Several days of cooler weather teased us into thinking fall was here, but then the heat creeped back up. I actually ran during the middle of the day recently and paid for it with a mild case of heat exhaustion.

I have spent my mornings writing upcoming pieces about our relationship with silence, movement, and the unconscious mind. I’m looking forward to publishing those pieces upon completion.

But alas, here we are. Fall will be here this evening at 8:04 PM, and I, for one, will be cheering on its arrival. Let’s see what the new season brings.

-mk