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Try to Remember the Kind of September...

  • Writer: kiehart
    kiehart
  • Sep 13, 2022
  • 2 min read

I've lost the desire to be in the sun for long periods of time and the winters in Northeastern Pennsylvania were brutal. Flowers blooming and lawns greening with the spring rains are wonderful sights, but it's always been the crisp autumn air that put joy in my step.

Autumn has been my favorite season for as long as I can remember.

In September, I loved going back to school. It was more than the new shoes and a bookbag stuffed with tablets and number two pencils; it was more than a different homeroom with a new teacher. Sure, I enjoyed learning but there was something about reconnecting with classmates after the three-month separation.

In grade school, my summers were spent with the friends in my neighborhood and as I progressed from elementary school to high school, friends from nearby towns kept me busy. Once school was in session, it was always a treat to see classmates who lived further away.

Last week, the children in my neighborhood returned to their classrooms. The week before Labor Day, I asked one ten-year-old if she was looking forward to school. She twirled around excitedly and chirped, "Yes! I'll be with my friends."

I won't tell her that as the years pass she will lose track of those childhood friends. I won't tell her that eventually, we go our separate ways. I'll allow her to enjoy her September to reconnect with friends because grownups allowed me that pleasure when I was a child.

I attended the same school district from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. I doubt I'd recognize most of my classmates but I remember their names. I'll occasionally search Facebook for those names and every once in a while I will locate someone. We'll do a message exchange, most times, but eventually, communication drops off. The evidence of too many years and too many miles between us. I'm thankful for those who have chosen to keep in touch.

COVID-19 halted our 50th High School reunion in 2021 and 2022. Maybe there will be a 55th reunion for 2026--but today that seems so, so far away.

Till then, I'll remember the many wonderful Septembers of past years.


ree

40th Lakeland High School Reunion - 2011 - Windsor Inn

I'm seated, wearing a light blue shirt.






 
 
 

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September Post

September isn't just a Month--it's a Mindset

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Photo: Monarch Pass, Colorado, September

Let me begin with a quote that captures the quiet magic of this month: “September tries its best to have us forget summer.” – Bernard Williams.

 

There’s something bittersweet about September. It’s not loud with excitement and energy like July or with sparkle and shine like December. It whispers. It reminds us that change is approaching—and change can inspire personal reflection.

 

In the Northern Hemisphere, September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The days grow shorter, the air turns crisp, and trees begin their slow, spectacular transformation. Leaves shift from green to gold, amber, and crimson—nature’s final fireworks before winter’s hush.

 

September teaches us that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping—it means preparing. Families switch into school mode. Farmers begin their harvest. Animals start their migration or gather food for the colder months.

 

September is a quieter month. The rush of summer fades, and the frenzy of the holidays hasn’t yet begun. There’s time to think. To breathe.

 

I’ve always found September to be a time of clarity--my 'chill' month. It’s when I take stock of my goals, reconnect with my values, and prepare for the final stretch of the year. For me, it’s about recalibration.

 

So what is September, really? It’s a month of balance, of beauty, of quiet transformation. Observe the changes that surround you each day. Be reminded that change doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

 

As we move through this month, I invite you to let go of what no longer serves you. And prepare, with purpose, for what’s to come.

 

 

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