It’s a Sad Day

It’s a sad day. I tossed my flip-flops toward the back of the closet. I stood for ten minutes looking at my choice of shoes, forcing myself to accept today’s brutal reality.

It’s time. I can’t put it off any longer. I reach into the closet—to an area I haven’t visited for months. My hand runs over the tops of the hangers positioned on the lower bar. I pause, stroking the fabric. Oh, how I hate this day.

Long Pants

Long pants … today I must wear long pants. I’ve been able to wear capris day after day, week after week because the warmth from the sun had caressed my legs and arms. Arms—I need to wear long sleeves, too! Ugh, can it get any worse?

Oh, this is a sad day.

Wipers Wiped

On my way to the store, I had to turn on the heat instead of the AC. I flipped on the defroster to dry the heavy due on the windows from the cool night air. Wipers wiped. Warm air billowed from the vents. And the need to turn on my car’s headlights makes it impossible for me to ignore it … summer is over.

Pulling into the parking lot, a quick movement catches my eye in a grove of oak trees beside the store. I walked toward the trees, then stopped, noting the movement was accompanied by chattering. Two—no three—squirrels were scampering around and around the tree at break-neck speed. They seemed oblivious to my presence. It was as if the cool morning air had invigorated these little fellas into a raucous game of tag. If I had walked any closer to the trees, I imagined I could see them smiling.

At that moment, I stopped, reflected over other cool mornings when Dad and I watched squirrels scamper through the woods. In a flash, I remembered the smells, the feeling of the heady due, and the comfort of the long sleeves.

When had I become so enthralled with capris and flip-flops?

It’s a sad day when the time has no purpose. But today’s the first day of the season I wear long pants. And it’s the first time in a long time I’ve been blessed with a memory that reminded me of simpler times. Both reasons are worth celebrating. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens Ecclesiastes 3.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

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