Wow, this week marks the beginning of September.  I know summer doesn’t “officially” end until September 22^nd, but when the kids are starting back to school – let’s face it, summer is over and fall is here.

I don’t know about you, but the summer of 2020 will be memorable only in the fact that I’d like to forget it.  Due to the “C” and “P” word (“COVID-19” and “pandemic”, respectively), the last three months have been quite the slog, with shops and restaurants being closed (or on weird social-distancing curbside pick-up rules), most summer events cancelled, and my own vacation to the beach this year becoming victim to the lock-down restrictions and common sense precaution of “we’re just not going to do that this year”.

Fall and winter cancellations have already begun locally.  The annual Mummer’s Halloween parade, the “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree event, and many other seasonal activities have already started to clear our calendars well into December.

My oldest daughter got to go back to college for all of two weeks before being told “nope – we’re going back to online.  Pack up your stuff and get out.”  My youngest gets to start her senior year online as well.  No fall sports, no homecoming, and no roaming the halls with her friends as senior “royalty” of the student body.  What a bummer.

I’ve personally had one COVID-19 test thus far (as an unfortunate incident at my workplace caused my entire floor to be tested  – all results returned negative, thankfully).  Other than work and trips for groceries and other essentials, the family is pretty much a group of homebodies, each relegated to their own space of the house to study, work, sleep, and basically exist.  I have to admit, some days it’s a real downer.

I guess there are silver linings.  My family is still healthy, with no virus infections (at least that we know of).  My wife and I are still employed – a rarity in this economy – and we have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in the pantry, so all-in-all, I can’t complain too much.  I’ve spent time in my community garden plot (my tomatoes have been outstanding this year), and I got my porch repaired/redone over the summer, so there are long evenings of quietly sitting in the cool air while sipping a warm coffee (infused with Bailey’s Irish Cream) in my future. 

The leaves will be changing soon, and the mountains behind my house will explode in glorious color.  Cool breezes, open windows, and frosty mornings will soon be the norm.  Apple butter, pumpkin pie, and other fall favorites will soon be on the seasonal menu.  These are things that the virus won’t impact, as Mother Nature will perform her seasonal circle in her own time.

Here’s hoping for a brighter future.