As I sit on my back neck, watching my kids play in the pool, I see the occasional off-colored leaf drift unassumingly onto the water’s rippled surface. I know that summer is nearing it’s end. Late nights, sleeping in, days spent perfecting cannonballs, going on bike rides, completing art projects,and relaxing will soon be cherished and missed memories.

This summer something else wondrous occurred.  My kids gave me time.  I was allotted some undisturbed time in the morning.  I focused on me. When my RA wasn’t too painful, I did some yoga and used the elliptical. I meditated, read books, and watched reruns of Flea Market Flip.  This time will soon end as well.  Rushed mornings with quick showers, hurried breakfasts, a lot of prompting, and possibly even some tears are fast approaching. Days and nights filled with work, school, homework, sports, making lunches, laying out school clothes, etc.will replace pool parties and late night trips to fro yo. I wish I could slow down time, stretch August out just a bit longer.

I’m going to hold onto summer for as long as I can.