School just around corner

As summer draws to a close, I am reminded of that dreaded feeling that all children get when the weather gets a little cooler, days get a little shorter and Mom starts taking you shopping for pants instead of shorts.

School is just around the corner.

As an adult that feeling is not so much about dreading school, but more about feeling that time went by way too fast.

When I think back to my summer, while it was supposed to be just over three months, it seemed more like three minutes. Every summer, days are filled with events, parties, vacations and more.

What is it about summer that leaves me feeling as though I lived an entire lifetime in a few short months? It feels as though people try to cram as much stuff into the summer because we’re all stuck at home for the other nine months out of the year that we’re buried under nine feet of sn**. (I don’t even like writing out that word.)

I am one of those people who just can’t get enough sunshine, so summer is my favorite time of year. My perfect summer day is spent at Saxon Harbor on the beach and having a bonfire.

This year, however, I didn’t get down there once. Not even for a short amount of time, and I live five minutes away.

Each summer becomes busier and busier, leaving me wondering about all of the things that I didn’t get done.

Summer reading list? Unread. Summer-themed activities, like swimming, hiking, fishing and more? Not done. Getting an awesome suntan? Still white as a ghost.

I really can’t complain, because my summer was pretty awesome. My time was spent at parties for my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary and my mom and dad’s 25th wedding anniversary, traveling to New York City, visiting friends in Green Bay, Wis., and spending time at the Iron County Fair.

My summer still has some pretty big events left, including celebrating at my cousin’s wedding and spending time with out-of-town friends at Festival Italiano.

When I look back at this summer, I don’t have any regrets per se, but I wish that I would have taken a little time just to have taken a breath.

I think we all need to do that every once in a while. Take a day for yourself. Do what you want, when you want. No schedules, no plans and let the wind take you, so to speak.

And summer ending isn’t all bad, because fall is just around the corner, and so are the things that come with it: beautiful colored trees, watching football, wearing scarves and mittens, drinking cider and dressing up for Halloween.

So with each season’s passing, I will try to think of the positives. With spring comes flowers and sunshine, summer comes long days and fall comes cozy clothes and beautiful scenery. Winter is much tougher, but I think what will get me through is the fact that Christmas is coming.

However, don’t even mention that horrible s-word. That would be too much for me to take.

Cortney Ofstad is a reporter for the Daily Globe. Contact her at cofstad@yourdailyglobe.com or 906-932-2211, ext. 120.