It’s so weird that we’re at the end of July already and school starts for some districts next week.
I mean, I know that practically I say that every time another school year rolls around, but the amazement is also always there.
Just like I’m a little shocked when we’re nearing the end of May and graduation time, too.
Though I can’t decide what stirs such sentiment.
Maybe it’s partial nostalgia for the end of summer and reminiscing about my school years?
The other parts are probably tied to annoyance at school zones and idiotic drivers, but the rest is sort of a toss-up and really depends on whatever whims stir within me.
Still, it never fails to give me a moment to pause on what I did all summer break, too.
Back when I was in school, summers always felt more magical than they are now.
Spending so many hours a day in school with an assortment of obligations, commitments and limiting variables made summer feel like a glimpse at freedom.
High school summers were especially inspiring and hopeful for me.
I mean, before I finally got a summer job after my senior year, it was always slightly lawless and full of possibilities.
Even when I had to spend most days watching my sister and brother, there was still time for friends and doing almost whatever I wanted.
I used to be able to put away several novels a week and could finish a book with 300-500 pages in a day if I had minimal interruptions.
It just felt like there was more time during the summer back then – maybe it was just the appearance of more time because I wasn’t an adult yet?
Now summers are more about coordinating work, home life and trying to find those tiny moments for myself.
Luckily, my night owl predisposition has been a constant fallback through my life.
When the world slows down and interruptions fall quiet late at night, then I can find a stride to conquer a few book chapters, play a videogame or watch a comfort movie while I finish unwinding from the day.
Though I also think that not having to fight my heat sensitivity due to my mom’s thermostat rule might also factor into my nocturnal tendencies.
Having the air conditioner set to 76 degrees during the daylight hours still seems too high while taking it down to 74 at night makes for the most comfortable sleep.
Of course, mom and I also argue about her thermostat rules whenever it’s winter time, too!
But, that’s at least another four months away and by then I’ll be pondering the holiday season instead of reminiscing about past summers.
At least winter breaks and holidays don’t leave me with the same meandering trek down memory lane as summer does.
Or, well, at least the recollections don’t take as long to get through!
After all, summer used to feel like it was full of limitless, magical possibilities while winter holidays are far more stressful and involved.
The last time I felt a lot of holiday season magic was when it snowed on Christmas back in 2004 – and I don’t see a repeat of that happening any time soon.
