Oh, it’s a long long while from May to December,
But the days grow short when you reach September.
I remember hearing Frank Sinatra sing “September Song” 50 years ago when I was a university student. Frank was 50 at that time so it probably touched him in the right place to sing it. The song is older than that – it comes from a Broadway show of 1938 and was written by Kurt Weill. It has arguably touched the hearts of folks who were born as early as the 1880s.
Well, September has become my favorite month in the last 10 years, so the song sure resonates with me these days.
It wasn’t always that way though. From my earliest days at school until I retired (and especially until Maria did too) September was always a month of sturm und drang for for me and the family. It was a time of dislocation and change – return to school, move to a new address at University, get ready for another school year (teacher), get kid to school, high school, university, yada, yada, yada. The first week was always a zoo – hot usually and somebody got sick.
However since we retired and moved to the Valley we have a totally different September to contemplate. Cool nights, warm days – still summer but the heat is turned down. The leaves starting to change but our lives remaining stable. Kids back at school and the crowds gone away at Costco.
The retired teachers up here have a brunch the first day of school at a golf course in Lanark. It’s called “The Hell with the Bell” and that seems quite appropriate.
There is a slight echo of September chaos with the grandchildren heading to school next week but that is more Dave and Sarah’s problem than ours.
The journey from May to September has been a bit unusual this year. In May we got back from a month long voyage of a lifetime, only to say goodbye to a wonderful old feline friend after 16 years. In June we welcomed Mr. Oates into our lives and he has been a delight. July we were butting heads with a recalcitrant air conditioner and celebrating our 10th anniversary of moving here. In August we had lots of house guests – grandkids, grumpy black cat, old work friend. Now we are heading to September and the leaves have started to turn on my favorite route from Carleton Place to Almonte. September Song.
And these few precious days I’ll spend with you,
These precious days I’ll spend with you.