Monday, September 5, 2011

Farewell to summer

Photo courtesy of morguefile
Dear Friends,

Just a quick post to mark the "official" end of summer.  The weather may stay warm for a few more weeks, but I can see fall foliage colors popping up here and there.  The birds no longer sing at 4 a.m.  The sunrise is changing, and sunset comes earlier.

I've even needed a light jacket on evening walks.

As long as I can remember, Labor Day has marked the return to school.  Kids go back to school earlier nowadays (I believe it has something to do with snow days).  Do you remember watching the Jerry Lewis telethon?  I would slump in front of the television, as Jerry, exhausted and growing more disheveled in his tux as the hours slipped by and the money poured in.  The closer we got to the end of the telethon, the closer I was to the dreaded start of school, which I viewed as a condemned person would view their execution at dawn.

I wasn't a popular child, though I longed to be, and tried to be.  I was bullied right up until the day I graduated from high school.  But every year, I hoped it would be different.

I'll never forget my sophomore year, when I got contact lenses to replace my Coke-bottle glasses.  I worked all summer babysitting to earn the money for them.  I got a new haircut for the first day of school.  On that fateful day, I walked up to a girl in the class ahead of me, one of the popular, in-crowd girls, and said, "Hi!"  She turned and said, "Oh, hi, Sandi," then turned away indifferently.  I was crushed.  Somehow, I thought that I looked totally different--unrecognizable--possibly even pretty--without my glasses. 

No dice.  Oh well oh well oh well, as Jack White once said.

Anyway, that's all water under the proverbial bridge.  Here I am, more than three decades later, trying to make a new start again.  The job search goes on.  I am trying to sign up for a class at our local community college to sharpen my skills.  I've been working on art for my proposed Etsy shop.

I hope this autumn holds some hope and fresh starts for you, too.

And if you're feeling down, just remember:  At least you don't have to go back to high school in the morning.

Blessings to you--


8 comments:

  1. This is so true for me too.Every year at this time I get that sick feeling in my stomach & I think you hit the nail on the head by saying it goes back to childhood & the start of school .Yuck !!! Thanks fr the reminder that I dont have to do that anymore !!

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  2. isn't it sad how shortsighted some high school
    girls can be.....especially the ones with
    the pretty baby blues.
    (I so wanted to be a blue eyed blond at that age...with long straight "sexy" hair)
    That silly girl missed an opportunity.
    Glad you're open to the new beginnings
    headed your way; the best is SO yet to come!
    love to you in all your parts,
    Jennifer

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  3. @Jennifer, I wanted to be a blue eyed blond too! Finally I have accepted my looks for what they are and I don't worry/think about them too much these days. OK, maybe sometimes...;)

    @Ellie, Thanks so much for coming by!!! It's great to see you!

    @Chel, Double amen!

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  4. Sandra, I feel so sad for your job search frustration; the good jobs were hard to come by there even in a stable economy. I hope that you have good luck taking a class; sharpening your skills can only help.
    Sending positive thoughts your way!
    xoxo

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  5. Thank you, Anita! I'm still trying to get into the graphic design class; LCC cancelled classes due to weather! But I'm a-trying!
    Thank you so much for visiting, too.
    XOXO

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  6. Wonderful post! This is my first September in ten years that I don't have to return to High School (worked there until March of this year)...while I miss the children and classes...don't miss the drama. Enjoying the cooler temps but not quite ready to say good bye to sunshine! Have a great weekend! :)

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  7. Nancy--that's the spirit! My mom is a retired junior high teacher and pretty much says the same thing.

    I dreamed I went swimming last night, but it's been way too cool for that. Oh well...Wishing you a great weekend, too!

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