Although according to official records there is another month of summer on the calendar, my personal calendar reflects the truth: only two weeks left of summer vacation.
I was in denial until my recent trip to Target. There it was, all the proof I needed. School supplies everywhere spilling from the aisles.
Pens, paper, notebooks and calculators piled high in bins, I actually bought myself a desk calendar so there is no doubt summer is coming to an end.
I really enjoy my job, my students and everyone I work with, heck, I even love school supplies.
But that transition from floating on my raft listening to Bob Marley singing “everything’s gonna be all right” to back to work mode makes me a little sad.
With only two weeks left I’m frantic because the seemingly endless floating, eating, late night TV watching and tanning are coming to an end. I think about this every year when it’s the two-week countdown. Where did the summer go?
Summer as a kid was sleeping in, listening to music, eating, hanging with friends and watching TV.
Hasn’t changed much except the “summer projects” I vowed to complete before I return to my other life.
It’s rough to relinquish control at the end of summer. My days have been filled with choices, “my choices” even if I still have several projects to complete.
I like having the control of my day, I make the decisions on what I’m going to do and when I’m going to do it. I still awaken early during summer break but I do it by choice.
Waking before dawn, watching the sun rise is how I start my every day, not just during the school year. Once school starts though, rising early is a necessity-and when it becomes a necessity I don’t feel the same about my special quiet mornings I’ve become so fond of. I don’t like structure, I’m a rebel.
Summer does involve some work. I rake and pull weeds in between my pool times. I even planted a butterfly garden which turned into a bee garden. I clean and organize closets (okay, just one) and organize my life (c’mon, who am I fooling?).
Summer is full of choices. I can lounge inside or out, cook or not, take a shower and get dressed or not, and certainly no makeup is allowed during summer break.
If I wake up on the tired side then I just do less than I planned for the day. Not so once school begins.
There are schedules and routines to maintain and deadlines to meet once back at work.
I’ll have to return to my grown-up professional persona. I’ll have to shower regularly again, maybe even touch up my roots I let go.
No more going barefoot or staying up late. I will feel obligated to dress and act accordingly.
In just a mere two weeks it will be about rules, routine, responsibility. I accept the challenge, even if it means no court TV, Jerry, or Regis and Kelly in the morning.
I’m planning on enjoying the next two weeks to the fullest and take advantage of the time I have left.
And in the greater scheme of things, I am grateful I have a job to go back to, especially one I truly enjoy.
