A summer love affair.

As I sit down to right this post, the breeze is blowing and I hear the rustle of the leaves and song of the wind chimes. I had to break out the long sleeves to sit on the patio today, the cool, crisp air an announcement that fall is here. 

I love fall. It’s not just the chill of the air and the comfy sweaters. I love the smells of country living in the fall; the changing of the leaves. Bonfires and hayrides. All things pumpkin. It’s just so cozy. 

But where did it come from? When did fall happen? When did summer end?

I was listening this morning to John Mayer’s “Something’s Missing” [because sometimes I just need to hear its lyrics.] One of the lines says, “When autumn comes, it doesn’t ask. It just walks in, where it left you last. You never know when it starts until there’s fog inside the glass around your summer heart.” I absolutely love that. This summer heart of mine..it’s sad today. I’m not ready to say goodbye to my summer romance.

My love affair with this summer began with my trip to California in July. I can’t really put into words how amazing of a visit this was. Quiet moments of solitude — moments to read, write and reflect. My days spent at the beach — my favorite place in the world to be. Morning coffees with my aunt — one of my favorite people in the world to talk to. Catching up with my friends there — strolling through a farmer’s market, having dinner, catching a show, taking a yoga class. Shopping or grabbing coffee. All simple pleasures of life but made into irreplaceable memories because of the company. My rest and relaxation was nicely balanced with having fun. Paddle boarding, boating in the Pacific, sky-diving, the adventures of making new friends. Letting my world intertwine with another’s, knowing that all paths cross for a reason, even if only briefly. It was insanely liberating to trust that and throw caution to the wind. It was an experience that taught me how it feels to follow your heart and do what makes you happy. To do what feels good and to have fun. It’s a lesson I hope to apply to my life moving forward, even though that perfect vacation by the water under the sun has ended. 

In August I was able to fly down to DC for a weekend to visit my original roomie. I flew in Saturday at noon and was gone by 8am Monday. It was the most amount of feel good vibes I’ve ever packed into such a short time span. It was good for the soul. She is one of my very best friends and it felt so good to be reunited. It had been over a year since we’d seen each other. {The best kind of friendships are the ones where you both make an effort to stay in touch over the distance. The kind of friendships where you pick up right where you left off.} We had heart-to-hearts and laughed so hard it hurt. We walked, we shopped, we walked some more. We explored Georgetown, checked out some of the touristy destinations and she showed me some of her favorite spots as a local. I experienced the event that is a DC brunch. [It started at 1pm Sunday and we were still going at 10pm Sunday!] It was such a tease, leaving us both wanting my trip to last longer but it was the perfect weekend refresher. 

And, finally, my weeklong getaway to North Carolina this past week. My mom and I drove down and rented a condo for a little mother-daughter retreat. I was really looking forward to this particular trip not only for time with my mom but also because my entire summer has been very fast-paced. I knew that this week my mom and I wouldn’t have anything to do but walk downstairs to the beach and sit there all day long. We woke up early each morning to catch the sunrise over the water and walk along the beach. I would drink my morning coffee on the balcony watching the surfers do their thing. {mesmerizing} Then we would make our way to the beach and just sun bathe all day. It was pretty hot so a dip in the water was incredibly refreshing. I napped. I read. But mainly I just sat there and listened to the waves crash and watched in awe the beauty of the ocean, trying to clear my head. I got used to starting my day with the sand between my toes, walking in the water. I got used to falling asleep to the sound of the surf.

This was the first summer being my own boss and it proved that the struggles of being an entrepreneur are worth the freedom it provides. When I wasn’t traveling, I had days where I could sit by the pool with friends. I practiced outdoor yoga. I had girl’s weekends. When others weren’t traveling, we got to catch up over happy hours or coffee. It was a summer of working hard, but playing harder.

I’m not ready to let go of summer but autumn is making us break up. So, summer, thank you. Thank you for being the happiest of my life. To quote Walt Whitman: “Summer romances…they’re shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they’re gone.”