So, September is upon us and I feel as if the summer months were one big blur. I don’t know whether it was the crazy weather we’ve all experienced the past few months or simply the pace at which we lead our lives. All I know is that I certainly would not describe the past few months as a break.

I was driving back to our office the other day, and there were two little girls—probably 8 or 9 years old—with beach towels swung over their backs, heading towards the neighborhood swimming pool. They were chattering like magpies (like 8-year-old girls have a tendency to do!) and had that expression of sheer bliss on their faces. Boy, did that take me back. Remember those days? Not a care in the world. The biggest decision we needed to make was how long we were going to swim before heading over to a friend’s house to spend the night. I must admit, I was envious! The freedom that we had as kids is long gone—at least for most of us. Why were we all in such a hurry to grow up? Okay—enough complaining. I guess I’m just wanting summer to last just a little bit longer.

As I look back over the last few months, I realize that my husband, Jim and I did have some downtime this summer. We spent many a night outside in our screened in porch. We’ve had the porch for many years, but for some reason, we never really used it much. This year, though, we found ourselves drawn outside to watch the thunderstorms and just to decompress at day’s end. We would turn on the ceiling fans and watch as dusk turned to dark. I told Jim on many an occasion that I felt as if we were on a mini vacation.

My dad, Al, loved his screened in porch. Most nights would find him grilling something on his gas grill with a beer in his hand. (When the grill fire got out of control—which it did frequently—the beer came in handy to douse the flames!) There were also many nights when my mom and dad both slept outside on the porch. I think it reminded them of their homes—they were both raised on farms. After spending lots of nights on our porch, I now understand the attraction that my dad had for his porch.

Fall, though, is still one of my favorite times of the year. After the heat we’ve had this summer, I am looking forward to sitting on our porch and enjoying the cool nights.

I hope that all of you had some time to decompress as well this summer. If you haven’t gotten outside as much as you would have liked, there’s still time! It’s good for the soul to smell fresh air, listen to the insects, and veg. See you next month!

P.S.—Happy 33rd Wedding Anniversary, Jim.

Special Notes

Spend part of your Labor Day supporting the 14th annual Bettendorf Rotary Run With Carl. See page 18 for more information. — Community Chiropractic is not only interested in pain and symptoms, but total wellness, see their ad in the Market Place on page 26 for more details. — Need organization or more space in your closets? Call Closet Tailors for a special Women’s Edition discount. See their ad on the inside front cover for details. — Have you thought of changing career paths? Find out how much money you could earn your first year selling real estate. Call Scott Case with Mel Foster Co. today. See his ad on page 10. — It’s not too late to keep on grilling! Stop in to Midwest Barbeque & Patio to learn more about the Big Green Egg and other grills and products still available. See their ad on page 22. — Have your eyeglasses been giving you problems? Let Virdi Eye Clinic help. Call them today to schedule your free consultation. See their ad on page 17. — Is it time to begin eating healthier and better manage your weight and cholesterol? Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating may be just what you’ve been looking for, see their ad on page 11. — If you’re in need of summer skin rejuvenation, give Mystic Skin Care a call. They offer a whole line of solutions for dehydrated summer skin. See their ad on page 23.

Positive Thought of the Month

“So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always
flare up again within us.”
—Gaston Bachelard