UNITED STATES—I tell this to people all the time, summer seems like the quickest season. I mean it’s already August and I was just talking about July last week. It seems like you really only have 6 weeks of summer compared to the actual 3 months so many people know we actually get. I guess I don’t consider it summer until school is out and the weather has warmed up to a significant degree. I am a firm believer that once July ends; you might as well say that summer is over.

To be honest I actually believe that. I used to argue for the longest that August was the hottest of the summer months, but I take that back. The hottest of the summer months is July. I mean July can be downright steamy, brutal, and oppressive and places you in a predicament where you don’t want to do anything, but sit in a pool or under air conditioning. However, for all of you who love the heat, the outdoors and everything that comes with summer, there are those of us who are ecstatic that fall is nearing its return.

First, I don’t have to worry about bugs, no more mosquitos, bees, spiders, grasshoppers, ants, flies and all those little critters that tend to explode in numbers as the heat arrives. Some of these, you’ll always see depending on what region of the country that you live in, but for those living in the Midwest and East Coast, things change significantly.

Next, football season is back in order and for me I love college football on Saturdays. Not to mention my wardrobe is about to change. All those great sweaters, long sleeve shirts, jackets, fleece, hoodies and coats that have been dormant since May are about to get the opportunity to be showcased to the rest of the American public.

We’ve already talked about it, so we might as well talk about it a bit more: school is back in session! Yes, this is great for those of us who have kids because you have 8 hours of peace especially if your child is old enough to be in the classroom. In addition, this bodes good news to those of us who want to be out and about, because you don’t have to worry about establishments that you frequently visit being overwhelmed with toddlers, kids and teens during the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Yup, they’re in school now, so you are free to shop, socialize and do whatever it is that you may be doing without all the hassle. In addition, the daily grind and routine comes into full force where things add stress to the lives and the constant movement of extracurricular activities. The other great thing about summer ending is that we usher in the big holidays if you ask me. After Labor Day, you have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Yes, there is quite a bit going on in the fall that forces more family bonding.

What I’m starting to learn as I age is that when it comes to summer you have to savior every single moment, because the moment that you blink, summer has sped by so fast that the heat is gone and the brutal cold weather has ushered in.

Written By Kelsey Thomas