We waited all winter for it…and now it is gone. I recall the days of zero and chill factors below. There were days that even I did not venture out of doors and I go out almost every day. There were the joys of Christmas and then the ringing in of the New Year and then wishing all that we encountered…Happy New Year…until February…
Snow and a considerable helping of ice were in store for us this past winter. 2023 was just getting underway and we knew that we had an abundance of time until 2024.

Then spring dawned with its hope for the future. I watched the trees in the Woods regain their leaves and the grass turn from brown to green. ‘The days are getting longer,’ Earl would say on about December 26th. Tomorrow is the longest day of the year. Although it is the first day of summer we have been enjoying the meteorological summer since the beginning of June and the children’s calendar for fun is about one-third done…almost before it began.

Summer brings the illusion of endless outdoor activities. ‘It once was cold…but that has passed, and now we are in the Kingdom of Light and Warmth,’ we say. ‘Coats we exclaim…and sweaters and gloves and neck scarves…not for me…not now that King Summer has arrived,’ we shout from the housetops! ‘More swimming…more hiking…more badminton…more picnics…and do not spare the old-time rock and roll,’ says the young man and his blushing bride. ‘We will build a beautiful house and fill it with kids…we will fulfill every career wish and attain the riches that eluded our moms and dads…we will fight all comers and wipe our brow for more excitement,’ Youth says.

The Fourth of July comes quickly and with patriotic fervor. We fought the battles and we won the wars and now we must enjoy the spoils of victory. Some of us seem to be lagging…some of us seem to be half-hearted in our approach to our ever-warm and promising day of summer… On July 4th it was unusually chilly. We wore our sweaters as we sat around the lake. We were thinking…autumn is coming…