Letting Summer Linger

Late afternoon, on the end of an already sweet day off, I pull the car into the parking lot of South Beach, cut the ignition, climb out and cross my sandals over the threshold of gravel into the soft contours of beach. It’s warm, with the most refreshing breeze. Shadows grow along the narrow line of bushes and trees before the beach, and I find my friend Erica among the cluster of people. She is already swaying in her portable chair in the shade, crocheting her next blanket.

I spread a towel in the sunny portion, sink into softness. Toes buried in the grains. Clear views down the shore, in the sky. I lay down and look up — pressed clouds patterned in the blue, low, like wallpaper. I look around — people all along the beach, splashing in waves, walking their dogs, shrieks of kids with buckets of water pooling mounds of sand.

Stress shakes itself off me as I let the lull of lapping water, peals of laughter, and slow streak of plane crossing overhead pull me into a much needed calm. This is is my town, mere minutes of a drive from home. Why haven’t I done this more?

I read from a paperback, talk with Erica, lay down again. Shovel deeper into the sand with a stone, excavating the lingering heat.

Aren’t these the days what our souls need to breathe? A clamoring for calm, permission to sit in the sun, rest, reset?

We are all buying more time from summer. Soaking up these days before school starts and vacation time ends. Before routines become our days and our days become memories.

These waning days of summer are not to be missed. There is still gold in these hours, with the city’s silhouette seen to the south, a clearing mind and warming heart.

Do not push past these falling petals of summer as the earth makes room for autumn. Drain this cup for all you can. Stay outside the extra half hour. Take the drive to the water. Buy peaches from the farmers market and play pickleball in the park. Summer still has much to give, within the lessoning light. And even there, look for the fireflies in the encroaching shadows.