After an unusually rainy and humid August, the morning air has just a hint of coolness about it – a promise of change. It has that end of summer smell where humidity finally gives in, reluctantly. The cone flowers are fading, allowing the black-eyed susans their time to shine, while the roses have one last hurrah. The bird houses have been vacated, the squirrels are on the lookout for treasures to store, the geese are on the move. Soon I will be able to mark time with the rhythm of the school buses.
Yesterday I ran into a former colleague and her two children while out running errands. They looked like summer – tanned from a final trip to the beach, dressed in shorts and T-shirts, relaxed. While the kids said they weren’t ready for school to start next week, I sensed a certain excitement about them. And I remembered…
…finding that just-right backpack and lunch box
…scouring magazines for new after-school treat recipes
…picking out the perfect outfit for the first day back
…mornings with a hint of chill in the air, waiting for the bus
…discovering the best new read aloud
…new schedules, activities, routines
…new pens and pencils and crayons
…awake at night, too excited to sleep
In the district where I spent most of my teaching career, teachers are reporting to school today. Maybe that’s why I’m up early. Maybe that’s why I had a bit of trouble sleeping last night. Maybe that’s why I’ll always think of myself as a teacher. Some things never change.
Imagine the Possibilities 
How true, Rose. I don’t know if we ever get over that excitement of the start of a new school year no matter how many years we have been retired. Do I miss it? Yes. Do I want to go back? No
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your post is full of nostalgia and hope. Back to school brings with it a wave of emotions. Here’s to hoping the excitement stays on top! Based on your observation, “While the kids said they weren’t ready for school to start next week, I sensed a certain excitement about them,” it’s highly possible! Thanks for noticing and sharing nature’s response to the event!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this. Thank you for sharing! It is refreshing to hear of the positive aspects of a new school year and of a career spent teaching! I only have a few years under my belt so I thoroughly enjoy the positive thoughts of those who have done this for years!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your flower descriptions leave me with such a vivid picture! Yes – back to school and fall can signal changes for us all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is nothing like the back to school feeling. You have captured it perfectly, Rose.
LikeLiked by 1 person