Considering the Autumnal Equinox is literally only hours away (fall arrives at 1:50 a.m. on Monday), it would probably make more sense to admit that summer is actually over, as opposed to trying to coax more sunlight by still dressing like it’s July. You’re pretty much begging to get caught in a September snowstorm with that kind of foolish denial!
But, for anyone who refuses to accept the truth (like me, and I know I’m not alone, ha ha) all we really need to do to get our feet back on the ground, is have a look at the nearest wall calendar, put our eyes back in their sockets, look again, take a deep breath, and finally come to the painful realization that before we know it, Halloween is going to be creeping our way. What the?!
Clearly the long, lazy, hot, sunny days have passed us by again, and it’s not quite as easy to get away with doing nothing all day long. I used to be the master of appearing busy while actually just wasting time at the park with some friends, a Frizbee, and maybe a few other things. But that was indeed a long time ago, and now somehow I’ve transformed into a father and husband who is rarely not busy. In all honesty, I sometimes don’t even find the time for proper sleep. These days, instead of being the time-wasting master, I’m now the master of napping. I can sneak in a 20-minute power nap if I have to, and that somehow holds me over until real sleep is possible again.
In some strange way though, no matter how much I love summer, I’m (begrudgingly) willing to admit that the start of fall is perhaps a slightly good thing, because it allows me to focus, and not get so easily distracted by all that a southern Alberta summer has to offer. Plus, now that my little ones are in school most of the time, my work schedule assumes a more “normal” pace, and I don’t have to be at the park, or riding bikes, or running our homemade “water fun park.” I feel like I can maybe get back to a more leisurely approach to things.
Because we’ll all be inside most of the time again inevitably, as the days get shorter, the weather cools down, and the snow starts to fly (gross), I’m looking forward to getting back to my favourite hobby – being lazy, ahhhh! Now hang on, that isn’t as one-dimensional as it sounds. Being lazy could include any of the following, but is not limited to: Listening to music, binge-watching movies and TV shows that I don’t get a chance to (on a regular basis), sleeping in, eating a whole pizza by myself while the rest of my family is away, or maybe a wing-feast at a pub while watching an Oilers game.
On second thought, maybe scratch that Oilers plan, they’re a lot more heartache than joy, so maybe that can wait until next year, LOL.
One thing I’m definitely excited about is the upcoming “Breaking Bad” film on Netflix, “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.” I got into that series after it ended its initial run, but I binge-watched all five seasons in about a two-month span shortly after it finished; I was addicted. I was literally blown away by the everyman persona and dire life-circumstances that encompassed Walter White. The movie will be on Netflix on Oct. 11. As far as TV or movies go, that is numero uno on my very short list of things to watch this fall. Otherwise, I’m sure I’ll be listening to new music as much as time will allow, and taking my kids to school, gymnastics, skating, field trips, ballet, etc. You know, all those things that fill up the time you hoped you’d reclaim once summer was over!
Autumn, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s something other than what it really is. Just another season of priorities that aren’t necessarily yours.
What are your plans as the leaves turn brown and the temps start dropping? Shoot me an email anytime, about anything, to ParkWardenVoice@gmail.com and don’t fall into your foolish perception about how things might start to slow down just because summer is over.
Cheers, and keep rockin’.
Park Warden is the Jack of all trades/utility player at 105.3 Rock. You’ll hear him weekends 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Friday evenings and filling in all over.
