A Summer of Ennui?

Where did the summer go? The late end to the school year in June and Labor Day falling late into the calendar has left me with a disjointed feeling as the school year starts. Summer always goes fast and you almost always get the feeling that it went way too fast but this last one just felt out of sync. It was a summer of change with the youngest going off to college and the "empty nest" being filled by her Grandmother who needs the extra help of a supportive family around her these days. There was lots to to do to get one chickadee off to school and to welcome the new chickadee into the house.

Even with the household change taken into account it was just a different feel. The summer weather clearly was a factor, rainy and cool most of late June and July, then a brutal hot spell  just when I was heading back to work in August. It did not make for a summer of consistent outdoor exercise, and while I put miles on the bike it was mostly in one big trip rather than the everyday and every week riding that is better for me. I did not get down to a Third Thursday Streetfest, or out to the Brooklyn or Woodstock Fair and only made a handful of club rides on Saturdays.

We had a wonderful family gathering on Labor Day Sunday with 25 people from both sides of my family and while a wonderful time, the sentiment was all about how rare it is that we all get together in such a big family group these days and even rarer that we do it at my house. Usually between birthdays and holidays and summer vacations everybody is gathering in smaller family groups here, there and everywhere almost every other weekend. We really had not had a family picnic since July 4th and that is an odd occurrence. There was lots of catching up to do at the party.

I am really not sure what to make of it all except to note it was different and to wonder what the fall will bring.