Words that Signal the End of Summer

Sitting together for breakfast this morning, Chris uttered the words that signal the end of summer to me.

The conversation went something like:

"Bob? What are we doing next weekend?"

I responded too quickly, "I think next weekend is open, why?"

And then she had me, "I think we should close the pool, the nights are in the 50's and so it is going to be too cold to swim. And the leaves are going to be falling off the trees soon."

Ugh! She had me. I had not only opened the door to the trap, but had cheerfully walked through and shut off any escape route behind me. I never saw it coming. It was a long distance kill shot. Perfectly sniped.

Closing the pool is one of the saddest weekends of my year. Not because of the work--but because of what it means.

The end of summer. Closing the book on the most joyous season of my year and ushering in the season of cold and darkness.

I need a house on the other side of the equator to escape to during the upcoming seasons. I'm thinking of perpetual summer rotating between the U.S. and maybe Chile or Australia.

In wine a wine region of course.

All of this because I have to close my pool--the site of summer fun and frolic.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD