From one season into another
Enjoying the view at Cates Park last summer (photo by my father)
As summer draws to a close here on the west coast, I reflect on this and past summers while starting to think about the new season fast approaching. It’s been an eventful summer, kicked off by graduation in May, a new job in June, and followed by three road trips and lots of family visits. (In the end, somehow not enough of the last two.) I was fortunate to reunite with four “long-lost” cousins this summer, three aunts and one uncle. I went to places that were new to me — Salmon Arm and Princeton — and truly went camping for the first time. Yet somehow, after all this adventure and enjoyment, it feels as though summer as a season didn’t really happen. I couldn’t manage to attribute it to taking on a full time job for the first time — I didn’t want to admit to it and previous summers with almost as much work involved didn’t pan out like this one. As it turns out, I’m not the only one to have noticed the lack of heat and lack of “summeriness.” It’s not the job at all (thank goodness). It simply hasn’t been hot! We had a couple blazing hot weeks way back in May and a breathtakingly hot day awhile back, but generally it’s been cooler overall. We also had a very, very wet June. It all boils down to me struggling to keep what’s left of the summer, enjoy it, bask in it, and convince myself it’s still July. HA. So I took a short trip to the swings in the park yesterday (gotta love my office’s location).
I immerse myself in summer memories when I have a quiet moment on the SkyTrain, walking home, or looking at photos. The kids playing on the street are enjoying it: in the summer they have the time of their lives. At least I know I won’t be going back to school this fall, for the first time. No doubt it will bring some nostalgia and a little yearning, but also relief and definitely no regrets. I can still feel a twinge of nervous excitement combined with stubborn unwillingness when I think about it. I only hope this year the weather will be better.
The shift in temperature and time means our evening walks in the park will be moving to Sunday mornings. Ah, a great reason to get out of bed at a reasonable hour! I think I’ll miss the evening out, but it simply is getting too dark too early. The other night waiting for her I happened upon a fairly unusual sight: a hot air balloon drifting over the fields south of my neighbourhood. What was odd was that it seemed to appear from nowhere. I was outside a while, came inside for a few minutes, and when I came back out, there it was in the middle of my view. Of course I grabbed a camera. The neighbour said these balloonists are regulars. *EDIT 6:16 pm* I just discovered an article about said balloon or a similar one bursting into flames yesterday evening. R.I.P. to the two killed in the accident; my condolences go out to your families if you read this. (Another article with photo. Google “Hazelmere Trailer Park” and you’ll find it’s making international news.) I’m just really shocked.
The moon and a hot air balloon make a gallant appearance
This is the view in the opposite direction. At least an advantage to a wide street with short trees is the panorama of the sky.
Taking these photos reminded me of last year’s numerous photo “expeditions.” Last summer I put up 3 posts of photos documenting the ever-changing skies as the summer slowly exchanged places with the fall. Here are a few of the best.
And other summery things:
(photo by the fisherman aka my other half)
Though it’s frustrating to see the summer (if we really had one) disappear, I’m looking forward to the fall. In bits and pieces. The smell of fresh cut grass and barbeques will be replaced by the smell of leaves, the sound of rain, and warm meals in the oven. Apple crisp, squash and pumpkins. Warm clothing, cosy evenings and new seasons of my favourite shows.
A hint of the fall made itself known today as I picked up a fresh buttercup squash and organic potatoes. As I picked out these gorgeous potatoes my hands became spotted with dirt, and it felt so pure. I was in touch again with the earth and I knew I was taking with me something good and wholesome to eat. (Yay vitamin A!) They retained their comforting aroma when I put them away at home. Oh but it felt like summer today. Cloudy, drizzling if not raining, but warm and humid. It felt like a rainy summer day, which is what it is, but it actually felt like summer which was the amazing part. Last year I really enjoyed going to that market, picking up vegetables like squash, beets and potatoes. In October the pumpkins showed up. Hopefully this year I’ll actually make a pie or cake. At night they light it up. Unfortunately — this just occurred to me — because they shift their hours back for the fall, I won’t be able to go there after work as I sometimes do. I used to go on the way home from school and enjoy their soft lighting and decor. So it will be something I’ll miss doing.
