four paragraphs on august

August feels like 6 p.m. on a Sunday. You've done fun things, relaxed, and completed the tasks you assigned yourself. Now you aren't quite sure what to do. Do you just call it a day and binge-watch a television show while eating takeout or leftovers? Do you create a magnificent meal from scratch? Do you go out to dinner and hang out with friends? The rest of your day could go in many different directions. 

August feels the same way. Many summer plans have already been completed. Vacations have already been taken. Time with family and friends has been checked off the list. You've grilled out so much that you think hamburger-scented cologne is a million-dollar idea. Summer is still happening but you have pretty much done all the summer things you planned to do. That's why August feels so slow. You're tan, rested, and full of potato salad, but summer is still here. You don't want to speed things up, especially when winters are so long and dreadful, but your thoughts are definitely peeking ahead to a new season. 

When I was a kid, August was the last grasp at summer. Days and evenings at the public pool or riding bikes felt a tinge melancholy because the sun was going down earlier and I knew that school was just around the corner. Entering a new grade was pretty exciting in theory, but not going to school seemed like a much better use of my time. Since my parents were teachers I was able to sleep in and be lazy because they were home enjoying their summer break as well. 

As an adult, August means that my favorite sport, football, is just one month away! The end of summer is in sight and with it the excitement of unproductive weekends on the couch watching college and NFL football on television. I turned on the first preseason game the other day and my son looked up at the game on tv and exclaimed: "football!" I haven't been more proud since he was born. Almost brought a tear to my eye. I can't wait to create many more football-related memories with my son while my wife goes shopping uninterrupted because she would rather do anything than watch ANOTHER football game. August means different things to different people...