Changing seasons, but not yet

It is the last day of August, and we are now two-thirds of the way through 2025. 

It's very cliche-ish to exclaim, "how has this year gone by so quickly?!" or some such thing. The fact is, time flies (how's that for a tired cliche?), pure and simple. I don't know anyone in my age group who would argue with that. 

To be sure, there are days when time seems to crawl. Those early days with babies getting adjusted to life outside the womb, particularly with regard to sleep, come to mind. Wife and I experienced that three times, and although I well remember each of those times, they are but distant memories. 

I have remembered them well enough to be able to tell each of my children, as they became parents themselves, that "this too shall pass." And with each of my six grandchildren, it did.  

Speaking of the end of August, and moving into September and the fall season (still officially three weeks away), I always find it fascinating how we tend to rush things here in the U.S. For at least two weeks, in the high heat of August, Halloween costumes and decorations have been taking center stage. I will qualify this by saying I'm not much of a shopper, but I have been in the grocery store a time or two over the past 15 days, and I went into a Target store a few days ago. Halloween, pumpkins and fall foliage are alive and well at all of these establishments. 

And in my online popups, everything imaginable with pumpkins appears before my eyes, specifically pumpkin spice lattes and Oktoberfest beer. I am not a coffee drinker, so the PSLs hold no interest for me anyway. The Oktoberfest beer? Maybe, but not yet. 

In the South, I guess we are so exhausted by the heat when mid-August arrives, we subconsciously believe if we start with the fall optics, the weather will turn cool, and summer will be in our collective rearview mirror. 

And maybe it even works sometimes. For the past few days, we have enjoyed a nice break from the heat, and I am writing this outside on my back porch. 

But as much as I have enjoyed it, I know it will not last. I have no doubt we will be back in the 90s before summer breathes its last around here. 

So, for now I'll pass on the Oktoberfest brews and reach for a Miller Lite should I need a refreshment break. 

But I better not let too much time pass if I don't want to miss the Oktoberfest offerings altogether. By the end of September, it will be all about the winter ales.