Too Soon

Sunday, August 11, 2024

Yesterday, at my part-time job, I watched deeply tanned shoppers browsing through kids’ and juniors’ clothing and understood that we’re near the start of a new school year. This summer, in my mind, is only beginning, but in reality, it’s nearly history. Time keeps slipping away, and ever too quickly.

Now, I’m thinking ahead about what I need to get done during the next month or so of still decent weather in Central Oregon. It’s important to plan ahead to ease coping through our crummiest weather months. Not so far ahead, one year will end, and a new one will start and begin to build up, typically through our most challenging climate months.

Unfortunately, now are added months of challenges. This was a hotter summer with many large wildfires. These summer weeks have been smoky and unbreathably dull, with few exceptions. No wonder, without a memorably enjoyable summer, I’m surprised that fall is days away.

Off the top of my head, fence-fixing, hay-bringing in, and vehicle cold-weather preparations are needed. Space is needed to make wintery clothing easily accessible. And no forgetting, there’s ahead a significant time change. It will require readjusting how we perceive light and utilize our daily hours.

There’s lots to do between now and September. First, to have fun. Then, much will be needed between September and November, to prepare for colder weather and the time change. We in Central Oregon must be ready to hunker in and wait until our unpredictable spring occurs (historically, around Memorial Day).

Dear Friends: Required semi-annual time changes make everything worse. Diana