It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
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August.
Melting, wilting in a hot muggy daze. The evening approaches with wild, tempestuous storms, bringing precious but momentary relief to the air…and flickering lights.
That old roof leak cannot be ignored anymore…let’s call for repairs.
August.
June and July were filled with travels; now the summer ends with quiet and slow.
Here’s a month to “collect ourselves” – get a few chores done around the house, socialize with friends, cook at home (and enjoy lots of fresh vegetables and fruits), slip out in the early morning for a long walk . . . or linger in bed with a good book.
I’m reading Daniel Nayeri’s Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) – absolutely delightful writing.
August.
Two days a week, we babysit the granddaughters, which means lots of fun play: playgrounds, Dad’s and Uncles’ old Legos, arts and crafts, puzzles, dolls, playdough, books, and more.
We discovered that one missing puzzle piece leads to finding and playing with many other things.
August.
Hon, when did you buy apples? Did you buy them before or after the granddaughters visited?
After. Why do you ask?
Well, there are these tiny little bites in the apples, in the fruit basket on the counter. I wanted to believe it was our toddler. Ugh. It is, as I fear – a nighttime visitor. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
Time to set a mousetrap.
August.
Black-eyed Susans and crepe myrtles are in bloom everywhere. The milkweed is hearty and strong this year. Lots of bunnies and deer to be seen on my walks.
There are always surprises to find in nature.
August.
All the teachers in my life are heading back for professional development, with students coming back to school very soon thereafter.
Three years into retirement, it still feels strange not to be stressed in August.
Thank you for visiting my blog. Clicking the title of any post will open a comment box at the bottom of the page. I love hearing from you.
I have missed reading your writing! This was a treat starting with the title and the alliteration. (August really does have an aura). This slice 🍊is part prose, part poem, part photo essay. (My favorite hybrid kind of writing). I love the title of that book. It has echoes of Mary Karr’s true story: The Liars’ Club. You’re living the retirement dream (from my vantage point), minus the roof leak!
Maureen, those little bites from the apples made me smile! The delight in the sweetness of fruit and the satisfaction of a bite is appealing to me, whether it’s a granddaughter or a mouse. The apples you bought brought joy and smiles. Your romp through nature is peaceful – – I can’t wait to know what it’s like to have a stress-free August. Mine is hitting all new highs this month. I’ll have to check out that book. I saw it on the shelf the day I bought Braiding Sweetgrass. I want to read that one.
Your post makes me smile on many levels. 4years into retirement, I too think about/miss? those before the fall meetings as I embrace my new life with a part time teaching job and lots of grandchildren and yes,, those fall visitors that nibble at my fruits and veggies on the counter!
Maureen,
You and Kim are on the same wavelength today w/ these gorgeous peeks into nature. Our August days are hot, and I dread the 4:00 pm dog walk when the temp is 95. But the mornings are cool. And about those apples. My new favorites are cosmic crisp. I’m going into year five of retirement and still feel the stress. What’s that about? Anyway, enjoy the changing season and all those nature walks.
Maureen,
I love the aura of August you have captured here. There are so many phrases that jump out at me and make me feel there with you. “Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.” — wow! I’ve had that happen before. We don’t want to find those little friends in our house, but it happens! Other sweetness:
“now the summer ends with quiet and slow”
“hot muggy daze”
“wild, tempestuous storms”
Enjoy the rest of these days, Maureen!