The worst part about summer is that it comes to an end.
I can tolerate the heat. I'm not a fan of 30 C days, but I handle it because it sure beats short days with sub-zero temperatures, which will be happening sooner than we think. I don't have kids, so I'm not thinking about how it's just a few more weeks until school is back in session.
Bottom line: summer should be the most fun time of the year. The days are still relatively long, although the daylight is reduced by just a little bit with every passing day. The restaurant patios are open, the cold beer tastes just a little bit better, and it's not a matter of if I'll fire up the barbecue this week, it's a question of how often I'll do it.
A night sitting on the deck, eating something fresh off the grill, while enjoying a cold Saskatchewan beer, and then reading my book while listening to music, yeah, that's a pretty good night.
It sure beats sitting in the house, watching something on Netflix or (gasp!) playing video games. I don't think I've played one of those in over a decade. I intend to keep it that way.
And there are lots of other good things to do in the summer months. Boating, fishing, swimming, camping, golfing, jogging, taking long walks, eating, relaxing outside or going for a nice long drive in the country – all these and many more seasonal activities sure beat sitting indoors.
Each year, I find it as a shock to the system when I flip the calendar to August. It's the realization that the summer is pretty much halfway over. Granted, August and the first half of September are pretty sensational around these parts, too, but by the time Sept. 1 rolls around, the days are a lot shorter and we're getting a sunset at around 7:30 p.m.
People talk about mid-life crises. I suffer from a mid-summer crisis: that realization that there are only a few weeks left, and there are still so many things that I want to do between now and the first day of fall.
In recent years, I've found a real disdain for spending summer nights indoors. A night in which I'm having supper inside, whether it be at my place or at a restaurant, feels like a waste. A night spent watching TV indoors is a letdown; I'd much rather be outside, writing stories or listening to music, or reading my book with the light from a headlamp guiding my way.
I might as well cancel my Netflix account for the summer months.
And I can't imagine a bigger waste of time than burying my head in a social media account, unless I'm narcissistically posting a photo of the view from my third-floor balcony overlooking a valley (which is admittedly pretty impressive), of the steak that is grilling on my barbecue, or of the latest craft beer I'm savouring.
As I've stated before, I'd rather stand on my head until I pass out than get into a debate with somebody on social media. That especially rings true in the summer.
We now have less than five weeks left until the first day of school. And we're about seven weeks away from the first day of fall, which means daylight for less than 50 per cent of the day. Leaves will change colour and fall to the ground. Halloween decorations and costumes will be available in the stores and our focus will shift to things happening indoors.
And we'll lament about the cooler temperatures and the strong winds, and yearn for the days of summer.
So let's make the most of the next few weeks. Spend as much time in the outdoors as possible. Enjoy the great activities and amenities that we have in the southeast. Make a list of the things that you want to do between now and Labour Day. (Note: binge watching some popular new program on Netflix or Paramount Plus shouldn't be on the list).
And please, ignore the damn social media accounts. Those can wait for a nice, dark night when it's -30 C outside, and you're wondering what to do.
