So Long, Summer

This summer rolled out in phases. First came my teaching phase, which nipped at the heels of the spring semester, when I taught two classes over an expedited six-week summer semester. I survived this phase, but already have little recollection of it. Next came the visiting phase, when my parents came north to escape their Florida heat and spend time with us in central Pennsylvania. This was followed by the phase of planning our annual neighborhood garage sale, then a phase of intensive yard work when we mulched and trimmed bushes and repaired our old fence. Most recently was the phase when I prepared for the fall semester.

Given that today was the first day of classes at the university and the local high school starts tomorrow, we safely can say so long to summer. It was a good ride. In the midst sunshine and sunscreen, humidity and the background song of cicadas, our kids had summer adventures of their own: a first internship in Pittsburgh for our oldest daughter, a school choir trip to Italy for our middle, and a week at Young Life Camp for our youngest. Everyone, it seemed, was doing something.

My something was taking a late July trip to Maine to visit my dear friend. While only five days, including the days devoted to driving there and back, it undoubtedly was the most memorable phase of summer.

Maine is worth the hype. So is spending time with a good friend. So this trip, which combined a long-awaited reunion and the beauty of Maine, already was destined for greatness in my mind before it came to pass. My friend asked if I would want to visit the coastal of town of Camden and take a scooter ride. I said I did.

Then, I realized that I had misunderstood her -- she had proposed we take a schooner ride, which is even better than a scooter ride. Mind you, I was entirely down for scootering around Camden, but sailing for two hours on the Penobscot Bay in a gorgeous schooner was phenomenal.

When we docked, I felt vastly better about life. Such is the power of sailing, I suppose.

We toured the University of Maine campus where she works. We strolled the otherworldly Orono bog boardwalk. We visited quaint shops and tasted homemade Maine maple syrup. We enjoyed skipping rocks, even if mostly unsuccessful in our attempts, and eating ice cream at Bar Harbor. We capped off our time by exploring Acadia National Park, which might be one of the most beautiful locations I've ever laid eyes on. While overlooking the ocean from a bluff, I was surprised to discover tears in my eyes, not from sadness, but simply due to an overwhelm of awe.

So now, as I officially say so long to summer and hello to fall, which is beautiful in its own right, I take this moment to reflect on the main event of summer: a truly special time in Maine.