Summer's End. A short story

Summer for most people starts

after the first barbecue of the season.

That being Memorial Day.

Maybe it's because

I live in New Jersey

and this is how it feels.

Once Memorial Day comes

the traffic anywhere near the shores

of New Jersey gets busy.

When the holiday hits, the beaches are full.

The neighbors all mow their grass every week.

The barbecues are going

and the smell of grilled

hotdogs, hamburgers

and all the side dishes begin.

Then school is over and the children

are outside playing.

Summer comes to a full throttle

when the hot weather comes.

The pools are open,

the beaches are crowded and

the traffic in New Jersey is endless.

Then comes 4th of July.

The second official barbecue of Summer.

Fireworks are all over New Jersey.

You don't need to stay home

and watch them on television.

The sounds of Summer are distinct.

The children are playing

and riding their bikes.

The birds are outside singing,

and yes

the lawn mowers are going.

Now the heat is on

and the air conditioners are blowing.

You just don't want Summer to end.

Now it's the big Labor Day weekend.

Traffic is worse and gas prices go up.

Supermarkets are crowded and everyone

is stocking up for the last fling,

the Labor Day Weekend.

Parties are happening in the neighbors yard.

Swimming is happening in every ocean and pool.

Then Poof!, Labor Day Weekend has ended.

Here in New Jersey people from all states

come to visit. They come from Florida,

Ohio, New York, Idaho,

yes the license plates

and driving reflect this.

But now its over.

The children went back to school.

Gas prices went down and

the barbecues have slowed down.

Yet, Summer is not officially over.

I guess it is just the notion that once

the traffic slows and license plates no

longer reflect other states, it just seems

Summer has ended.

The neighbors start closing up their pools.

The beaches are less crowded.

The lawns are not mowed every week.

Summer is not my favorite season.

In fact I love Fall, but often we go too

soon into Winter.

I welcome the changing of the leaves,

the cooler days and even cooler nights.

I like not battling the traffic when I go to work.

So an early farewell to Summer

and a welcoming to Fall,

my favorite season of the year.

Why does so many people wait for Summer?

It is because Summer is vacation time from work?

Summer means more time with the kids.

Time to lay out and get a tan.

Many individuals hate the cold weather.

However, Spring is before Summer,

So why the big anticipation of Summer?

Maybe I am not a big fan of Summer,

simply because to me it is just

another season in the year.

Maybe it is because I hate the

hot weather, high electric bills

and yes as my article said,

the New Jersey traffic.

However, I am in no big rush

for Winter.

I only hope that Fall will

hang around

for just a little while.