by Daniel P. Ford

Created on: September 08, 2009

The end of summer. Something old and something new. The end of beautiful crystal beaches, Mack's pizza, and the hot board walk. The beginning of school. The signs of Halloween from the decorations in CVS to the first scarecrow on my neighbors lawn. The end of summer sales at Walmart. The beginning of the NBC fall line up. So much to reflect on yet so much to look forward to. My wife and I stare a pictures of my son at Sesame Place riding the roller coaster. He loved it so much he rode it again and again. My daughter climbing the tree on the front lawn. My favorite pictures is the one with my son and daughter with tweetie bird at Six Flags. Which just so happens to be my sons favorite summer memory. My daughters favorite is the day we took a family trip to the Please Touch Museum. My personal favorite is when the family went to see the dolphin show at Six flags. My wife, being a simple person, loves the picture of her and I drinking wine by the candle light. Though, I can never get enough of those Wildwood days. Listening to Jimmy Buffet while sitting on the back porch of our summer shore house. My wife would cook my brothers and I up some juicy crabs and clams and then watch in glee as we made a mess of ourselves. They would argue on who's wife is the better cook. But they all knew. Now, as my wife and I look over the pictures of my kids smiling faces, we reflect on a happy and memorable summer.

We also look forward to the fall. The time of changing colors. When the warm summer breeze heads south and the cool air rides in on a rolling thunder cloud. I can already smell the Thanksgiving turkey. Target already has started to roll out the Christmas Cd's. Though when I come to the point when I think I have had enough, I leave always wanting more. So I guess I'll charge the camera battery up for the next time my wife and I cuddle up on the couch and scroll through the album. I already know it'll be over before I know it. So now is the time I need to cherish the moment. How many more times can I sit my kids on my lap. My six year old daughter already is talking about boys. Though she talks mostly about the Jonas Brothers, I think I have had enough. But how many more "I love yous" and the "kiss goodnight" will I receive before the time where she forgets because she wants to go out with friends. That is the day I dread the most. But for now, I'll sit and stare at these pictures of a summer already past and cherish every waking moment.

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