by Olivia Emisar

Created on: September 07, 2009   Last Updated: September 09, 2009

As a child living in Spain, the end of summer brought a kind of sadness. On a September afternoon, I could see the swallows migrating in large flocks. It was my private and quiet moment every September, watching them from the terrace of our apartment.

Every year an immense flock would be followed by dwindling ones until the last flock was gone. I always waited for the last lone bird, the one that seem to have been left behind by all the others and who, I dreaded, would have a hard time catching up to all of his friends. I felt it was my duty to wish him well on what would be a long, hard trip to warmer climates. I was his witness and silent cheerleader.

That lone bird signified that summer was over and fall had arrived, which brought the dreaded school session and the inevitable homework. The weather had become cooler and sweaters were once again part of the daily outfits, coats were not far behind and the sadness of those swallows, who punctuated the end of our summer, also gave way to the anticipation of the winter holidays which seemed a long way off.

As an adult, the end of summer has signified many things, depending on where we lived at the time and if there were any noticeable changes between the seasons. For instance, in Hawaii, I would spend Christmas day at the beach and it reminded me of the movie South Pacific, where I found it odd that people spent Christmas in summer dresses and lacked the much needed snow to give them the feeling of the holiday.

I was a child when that movie came out and I did not know any better, but as an adult, I relished the envy of family and friends on the East Coast who would call to wish me well and invariably ask: "So, how is the weather over there?" and I would reply: "A bit chilly, we hit 68 last night.". The dismay and disbelief that I would say it was chilly was priceless. However, I have to say, that the houses were not built for weather below 80, and most of us did not have thick blankets (or even a sweater), so it did feel chilly while wearing shorts and flip-flops under those conditions.

We live in Northern Nevada now and it is nothing like the familiar Las Vegas, since we have distinct changes in weather that clearly identify the seasons with a vengeance. The end of summer means that kids will end their carefree summer and be saddled with the responsibilities of getting their homework done and meeting deadlines and hanging out with their friends on the weekends. It also means that we will soon be going to pick apples at a farm and start looking for the perfect pumpkin soon, that kids will go through the Halloween bucket and find a combination of bizarre looks to go begging for candy one more time.

The end of summer brings the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season, the decorations to be made and displayed and the special meals to look forward with their assorted, home made desserts. It also means playing in the snow, going sledding and looking forward to summer once again, so we can go to the Lake, the pool, camping and to look forward to the end of the school year when once again, we feel the freedom from rigid schedules and obligations that are so prevalent the rest of the year. Life is good!

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