September

From brightest blue spills glitter of afternoon, more champagne than ever summer…” so in the words of Robert Penn Warren who surely was talking about September, the onset of Autumn begins! Those random few yellow leaves we saw scattered here and there in August are now forming small piles, a precursor to the bigger piles yet to come. Don’t you love that scratchy, rustly sound as you shuffle through the dead leaves or maybe leap childlike into a great pile of them! But for now, the energy in the cooler air and the expectancy of brilliant foliage yet to come, keeps us outdoors savoring every moment. There is something about the September light – it’s so effervescent - crisp mornings leading into warmer afternoons, though the days are shorter – all the more precious!

With the shorter days, the nocturnal critters are out earlier and now you can see the bats flitting about as dusk falls but no worries! These much maligned little creatures eat a thousand mosquitoes (and other insect pests) in one hour, so we need to encourage them! Or the very least adopt a live-and-let-live pact with them! There are 45 species of bats in the United States and fewer than half of one-percent carries the rabies virus! From my kitchen window I can see that my neighbor has a “bat house” way up high in one of the trees at the edge of his property.  I have never actually seen any bats coming and going but I like the idea of this unexpected welcome mat over there and I’ll keep watching!

It’s still not too late for a picnic supper at the beach, reveling in Indian summer – hopefully ending every impromptu dinner with toasted marshmallows… and aren’t smores good any time of the year? So, let’s take the advice of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and … sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that bank upon the idle seashore of the mind…  Aren’t we lucky to live near enough the water to bask in its sounds and scents and visual repasts – so much to offer in all seasons!

And as what eventually happens, time doesn’t stand still and we get the pull to go indoors.  For those not lucky enough to be heading to New Jersey, it’s the Giants versus whoever as we step into NFL season! Who can resist! Get the chili, the chips, the beer ready and party-on whether it’s tail-gating or in the TV room – Sunday’s now revolve around the pigskin! On the town front, we’ll soon see, among other high school sports, the Blue Wave football team – practicing and playing and then the traditional Homecoming dance, bonfire and football game – check out the new electronic scoreboard! – Autumn has begun for all ages!

But if you’re still not quite ready to let summer go, what better way to say your goodbyes till next year than celebrating 64 year old Diane Nyad’s amazing, record breaking 103 mile Havana to Miami swim without a shark cage! I am so impressed!  She says this would be her final attempt but wanted to prove "it's never too late to chase your dream," and so she did. Age is just a number, as my son tells me, so dreams should never be abandoned! Nyad pursued her dream for 35 years and 5 attempts! So, dust off your dreams and aspirations and as George Eliot said - It is never too late to be what you might have been... Happy September, enjoy the gold, touchdown!