Dear John Summer,
I must admit there were good times. We enjoyed fantastic beach days basking in the sun and jumping ocean waves. We indulged in barbecues, citrusy summer ales, and frozen desserts. We spent lazy hours lounging beside the pool, laughing, and making memories with friends and family.
Yes, we did have some fun. Truth be told, though, I have grown weary of your oppressive heat and humidity. I long for the reduction in traffic and crowds that signals the end of yet another summer season spent living in a tourist town. I am ready to trade those citrusy ales for richer Octoberfests, the barbecues for tailgating, and the frozen desserts for hot ciders. Dearest summer, I realize you have a month to go before your scheduled departure, but I would be forever grateful if you could see fit to leave a bit early.
You see, I suffer from the reverse version of seasonal affective disorder, and I feel you are to blame. Unlike many, I thrive in the fall and winter months and wilt in the summertime. (I admit to a certain ambivalence where spring is concerned). The colder air and shorter days make me come alive. The long sticky days of summer drain me physically and emotionally. My sleep is disrupted, and my anxiety crawls out of hibernation. I find myself fighting depression brought on by days spent inside hiding from temperatures in the upper 90s with heat indexes making it feel well into the 100s.
My creativity is stifled and suffocated by the humidity that wraps itself around me like a hot, wet blanket. I find myself writing less and less often, drained of energy and enthusiasm. There are too many days when I never touch my laptop, too many days when my pages stay blank. You have turned me into a lifeless, limbless pile of couch-surfing discontent.
And so, darling summer, I must tell you the same thing I told spring earlier this year. You will never be more than a fling for me, a passing attraction. My heart belongs to another…well, two others if I’m being honest. My love affair with fall and winter will endure and stand the test of time, and there is nothing you can do to change that.
I ask you to bow out gracefully, to fade to black, and to ride off into one of your magnificent sunsets. Please try not to take it too hard and know that there are many out there who will be glad to have you. We just weren’t meant to be…
With fond regards,
Karen
Note: I hope this tongue-in-cheek letter will help explain why my posts have been less frequent over the past few months. Tell me, do you flourish in the spring and summer months? Or do the fall and winter months make you come alive? What time of year is best for your creativity? As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback!
I always like to think that I’ll flourish in the summer when I get a break from teaching, but it comes in fits and spurts. My brain needs a break, and I’ve found it best to fill up with activities that stimulate my creativity – like reading, traveling, cooking, gardening, and thinking – then the words seem to come over the fall/winter.
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I was going to leave a similar reply. Instead, I’ll like yours and say “Ditto!”
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I like the way you look at things. I try not to stress over not producing content during the summer months. Maybe my relaxing trips to the beach are generating ideas that will come out later…like a squirrel gathering nuts for the wintertime. 🙂
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I hate the heat, it makes me tired, crabby and sweaty. I can’t sleep at night and am uncomfortable during the day. I like Autumn, the colours, the cooling evenings. Winter is OK provided I am cosily warm and dry, we have discovered that 19 degrees is good for us in the cold months, even on the boat. Spring is for everything new. I love the fresh bright greens as Nature awakens. Thus my year come full circle.
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I love the fall and winter! I would like spring more if it didn’t bring with it horrible allergy issues and the knowledge that summer is not far behind. I do love the brilliant colors of spring after winter, though.
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This is great! I feel the same way about the heat! You can’t take enough layers off to be comfortable and it is very stifling. I do love Fall and Spring though. Winter can be a little too cold for me depending on where we are…but I do love making delicious stews during the winter! I am also ready for the change to fall so I can start having all the comfort foods! Here’s to hoping we have an early fall!
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Yes to comfort foods! My crockpot is gathering dust, as it seems all of my favorite slow cooker meals are geared toward colder weather. I also enjoy being outside and hiking in the cold, crisp air of late fall/ early winter. Fingers crossed for that early fall!
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I am in love with summer have a strong dislike fo winter. Spring and fall are okay.
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I think many people share your feelings on winter! I may be the exception, but I am okay with that. 🙂
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I love to see the sunshine and it makes me happy – for a split second!! It is then much too hot for me to cope with. Like you, it drains me and saps my energy. Each season has something to offer though. The autumn with the beautiful colours and brisk, crisp mornings, the winter being snuggled up indoors although I do hate driving in the snow! The spring is actually the best I think. The promise of new life, and the summer to come, but without the searing hot sun!
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I would not know how to even begin to drive in the snow…we moved south before I got my driver’s license so I dodged that bullet. On the rare occasions when we get snow here it pretty much shuts the whole area down for a day or two.
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It is the same here mostly as we are just not that used to dealing with it. 🙂
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I am the exact opposite and dread the ending of summer. My body doesn’t function in cold. The neuromuscular disease which causes my muscles to deteriorate makes living in winter a frozen hell. I have more energy in summer, feel better in summer, and don’t need to hibernate. I need to live in summer all year. But, my need for home care keeps me here in the northeast US because I live in a state with comparatively good programs.
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You would do well in the area I am in as we seldom have below freezing temps, but with the low pay scale I would imagine the programs for PAs would not come close in comparison.
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No – and sadly the amount of hours allocated to people with disabilities for home care is often inadequate. And several states have waiting lists for home care. I’ll stay in NY for now.
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But I love those citrus ales. Personally, I love summers but they tend to be busy. Bring on pumpkin spice…
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Haha, I love them, too, but where beer is concerned I can adapt. 😉 I’m not a huge fan of everything pumpkin, but bring on the peppermint in the wintertime!
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I too prefer the wintery months, so it’s going to be interesting as I emigrate to NZ and have Spring (UK) -> Summer (UK) -> Spring (NZD) -> Summer (NZ)!
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I have always wanted to visit New Zealand, it’s on my bucket list! Funny, but we are looking into eventually retiring to an island in the Caribbean. There will have to be annual trips to somewhere cold! Perhaps as I age my bones will thank me for the warmer climate.
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I’m currently in France, close to the Spanish border. It is hot. I have heatrash and I’m popping Antihistamines to calm the itch. I got inordinately excited when I heard Someone talking about pumpkins! Autumn is my season!
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Oh, heatrash is the worst! That and sweating behind your knees, ick! Autumn has my unconditional love!
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hahaha, You’re clearly not Canadian! 😀
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Haha, nope! I do remember being much fonder of summers when I lived in New Jersey, though… 😉
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I love autumn–not too hot or cold. 🙂
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I agree! It’s always been my favorite, though we don’t have nearly enough of it here in coastal SC. I always miss my hometown in northern New Jersey from September- December.
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In England spring was always my favourite month, its not as nice in New England but autumn here is great. I also find summer too long and I don’t live somewhere as hot as you! Not too long to go now! 🙂
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New England in the fall is awesome! Maybe not so much the winters, though…at least not this past winter. Here’s hoping you have a lot more of the former this time around!
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Hehehe… a fling it is. They all are 🙂 Here I am, after enjoying winter now finally at the point where I kicked it out and welcomed beautiful spring with very wide open arms. So looking forward to see summer again, although I know it will be a struggle with it at some point. Ah the seasons… 🙂
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I suppose it’s a bit of wanting what we don’t have? They do each have their redeeming qualities, but I’d take a shorten summer as trade for a longer fall. 🙂
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Yes, me too! Love fall! It’s my favorite season of the year. Still so nice and warm and yet already getting cooler and it smells so good… the leaves, the soil… everything…
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Funny post, though I think it depends on where yourbsummer and winter months are spent..:) I can see why you would want to love into the cooler months.
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Oh yes, you know I looked at summers much differently when I lived up north. It is impossible to beat a northern New Jersey autumn, though! Winters seem to have gotten tougher up there over the past years, I’ll give you that… 🙂
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Hi Karen!! I enjoyed reading your post!! It’s interesting how you have reverse seasonal affective feelings!! I can appreciate your love of cooler months although I’m the opposite… I tend to thrive in the summer and turn into a sloth-like person in winter!! Yet I have been away from writing on my blog this summer… I’ll get back into writing once I’m back inside 🙂
Hope all is well and happy Monday !
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Sometimes you just have to step away from the computer and go live life! Where else would we get ideas to write anyway? I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying your summer! 🙂
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Thanks, Karen! It’s been a lovely summer for me…lots of time at the beach and outdoors! I have been away from my computer too, more than usual. But I’ll get back to the keyboard soon!
All my very best and much friendship,
*Lia
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Oh, Karen…you are my kind of girl……I too abhor this heat and humidity and I’m counting the moments till fall!
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Kindred spirits 🙂 We don’t have too much longer to wait!
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I got used to the heat after 30+ years of living and working in it. Summers were busy because of my former profession. Spring and summer bring windsurfing and SUPing, but fall really is my favorite time of year. Now I have summers off! I like winter until January then I’m ready for warm temps. I think every season has its charms. And I love the way you wrote this post!
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Thanks ,Terri! My husband worked on Beach Patrol with the police dept. for several years (what a gig, right?!), and he got used to being outside in temps in the upper 90s while wearing a Kevlar vest. Now he complains that it’s cold if it drops below 80. 😉
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It really depends. 🙂 I enjoy all the seasons, but my productivity is tied to how many other things are going on in my life. So I guess I’m season agnostic from the productivity angle. I am partial to Spring for the new beginnings and Fall for the gathering of crops and families.
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Season agnostic…what a great phrase! Fall does seem to be the best time for family get togethers. 🙂
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Give me spring and fall. Winter gets me down (more so than I’m already prone to being) and I am not a fan of summer (outside the beach and LM being out of school). Too hot!
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Way too hot in SC for sure! Here’s hoping we get more than a few weeks of fall this year!
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Well put! I love the New England Fall and walking the beaches in RI when the tourists have left for home. And winter! Just give me a warm fireplace, a wooly blanket, a good book and two lap cats, I’m in heaven! We are kindred spirits. Take heart! September is just around the corner.
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Throw in some dark chocolate and you just described my perfect winter day! New England in the fall must be gorgeous! I grew up in northern New Jersey, and it was always the best time of year. 🙂
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I get it! I become a wallflower in the heat and humidity! But give me a cool fall day and I shine:). You’re not alone, sister!
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I’m glad to be in good company! Summer just makes me feel…icky…
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I’m with you! Autumn is my favorite, by far. Winter close second. Spring much closer to winter than summer. Summer, blech. Summer has the garden goodness and like, a few good times. My anxiety is highest in summer — the allergies, the Rosacea, the bees — fall can’t come fast enough! Winter has my love apart from the kids’ bus stops and insomnia. My health starts to fail when the weather starts to warm. I usually spend spring sick with this or that, although I must admit spring is pretty and there’s not as much shoveling or scraping. I am highly productive in September and October, without fail.
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We are two of a kind. My anxiety, while not sky high, ratchets up in the summer. I also tend to get sick in the spring and spent a good six months in allergy hell. Blech is right!
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I love this, Karen. I never thought of summer this way, but I have to admit, I also spend lots of time indoors. I also wilt in heat and humidity. I long for those crisp fall days, although I can live without winter. There’s a lot of pressure to love summer. Mostly I love that its the opposite of winter. But there’s something about those milder seasons — spring and fall. They’re just right.
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There is pressure to love summer. It’s false advertising if you ask me! I think even if I still lived up north I would still love winter…provided I could work from home and not have to drive. 😉
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If I lived were you lived I’d probably welcome winter every year! I’ll just be glad when allergy season takes a hike!
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It’s all relevant, isn’t it? I’d trade you the heat, humidity, bugs, and hurricane threats for some cold temps and snow. Until I had to drive in that mess… 😉 Allergy season is nearly year-round down here. We are coming into ragweed season now…awful!
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Oh i live in India, you have not seen summer till you live here!
Winter is the respite, the one season that is getting shorter and warmer each year. Rains are drenching and sporadic.
Summers make everything a burden! 😦
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As bad as the summers are in South Carolina, I’d hate to think it could be worse… It seems to stay hotter longer each year, too. A burden is right!
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I’ve always thought of myself as a summer baby because I love the water and the sun but to be honest, I appreciate each season for the things that are unique to each one. I love the changes that come every four months and I’m glad I live somewhere that actually experiences all the seasons. 😊
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I think when I lived in NJ I took for granted the true difference between the four seasons. Where I am now we go straight from winter to summer and back again with maybe a few weeks of fall and spring thrown in. Now that it’s September my heart longs for all the amazing things that are autumn in the Northeast!
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Can a bit understand where you come from Karen, that summer never seems to end (except up where we are it is the 6 months of winter..haha) I honestly I could handle relentless heat either.
The window of summer is pretty short up here, so us Canadians really tend to embrace summer. The odd day is in the 90’s, but mostly in the 70’s and low 80’s, very tolerable and enjoyable. 🙂
Sincerely hope your days will cool down soon.
~Carl~
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We are in opposite environments for sure! We are still hovering in the mid 80s down here with lingering humidity. It looks like next week we will finally dip down into the upper 70s which will feel gloriously cool! 🙂
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