Dear Reader:

I really did need to say ” Rabbit Rabbit” early this morning ( first thing) because July quickly ” snuck out” last night without making a sound and this morning the reality of August and all it represents hit me hard!

Since I was a classroom teacher for decades … August meant school supplies for my own children ( in different stages growing up) It also meant listening to their audible moans and groans whenever the ” Back to School” television commercials came on.

My moans and groans were inaudible but just as painful… for my pocketbook! Every year the lists for required student items per subject grew and grew. Not to mention new clothes… what is it about summer and children’s growth charts… every summer the growth charts seemed to double!

Since I was a mother first, then a teacher… my own classroom requirement list read something along the lines of ” Be on time, Wear a Smile, Bring a writing utensil, a notebook of your choosing and your social studies book when needed for certain lessons only …as informed by your teacher. ”

The nicest thing about storytelling history… it’s not only fun and student motivating, but requires little else but one’s imagination.

August is not only a ” dog days” month but the emergence of ” reality checks” that require leaving the seemingly endless days of ” nothingness” in time and relaxation and trading it in for preparations for the mundane ” busyness ” of life to start returning.

Since my children are grown now with families of their own ( who have to listen to their children groan about school and rising before dawn to get there on time) I am spared school starting… for me it is medical tests and appointments that start back this month… anyway you cut it… August is the ” Back to the Reality of Life Month.”

Of course… once we get back in the ” groove” it is usually not as bad as we dreaded and we start blending back in… with summer soon just a magical memory. *** I read somewhere that as adults we have more memories from summer ( children’s heaven) than any other season including Christmas in December. The carefree days of a summer childhood are powerful indeed!

I read a quote on summer that said ” Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy.” And even today health care givers promote the health benefits of summer ” laziness,” It allows our bodies to recharge physically and mentally/so we can perform to our fullest capacity with all our creative potential intact!

So until tomorrow… ” Rabbit! Rabbit” … let’s start August off today in a good frame of mind… appreciating a few more transition days before reality comes knocking on the door. After all it is our mental health and attitude that frames our lives through all seasons… so ” Carry the weather with you.”

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh