She couldn’t wait any longer, could she? Autumn with her wild orange hair and wood-smokey eyes came to us a day early, stretched herself wide across Sydney and settled down for the season. Welcome, dear autumn (though you come too soon), make yourself at home.
You know that summer is ending when the light starts to fade earlier in the afternoons, your toes start niggling for socks, and your gut slows down and starts craving warm soups and spicy curries. Or is it just me?! Well, it’s happenin’, folks. The seasonal change is upon us.
But wasn’t summer amazing? This summer was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. All the beaching, sunning, swimming, and family reunitin’. So please forgive me for being awol from this space this summer. We were out and about and when it was time to come back ‘in’, there was so much work to catch up with at home and in the office. Plus the start of the new school year for both of my girls meant that preparations were in order. But while I was away, I was thinking of you.
I thought that once I got back here I’d tell you about some of the things I’m thankful for this summer:
- Christmas visitors who graced our celebrations all the way from the Philippines. The house was never more lively with kids in every room and outings everyday.
- All the pyjamas I got for Christmas!
- The sprinklers at the park for turning on right on time to cool us down from the 40 degree heat at Mils’ 4th birthday party.
- Super understanding bosses who let me have two holidays, before and after Christmas, and still take time off during the office shut-down period in between. So long as I handed in those 2 reports and knocked off my huge actions list, that is.
- Gigs that came in for Ga.
- Mamati and Papati for being married for 40 years and for deciding to celebrate in a big way by throwing a massive party and sending us over there to be with them. And for letting us see Panglao island for the first time.
- Davao. For being so full of family. And for being so damn charming, with her fruits, Mt Apo, nightly torrential downpour, and her child-like Tagalog/Bisaya speak that makes the assertation “you’re a pain in the ass” sound innocuous, cute even (i.e. samoka mo uy!)
- Massages. Had a couple of mind-blowing massages while on holidays. Not like how it sounds – although I was very happy at the ending.
- The fact that my week-long bout of gastro was in fact, not cholera. Ehem…nuff said.
- Tito Jed for blessing my sister and I with his Ermita pad and his time. His intellect, sentimentality and easy manner makes him such fun to be with.
- The time I spent with Papa. Just me and the Guv’na. It’s been many years since it was just us two, chewing the fat, shooting the breeze, comparing tattoos… it felt normal, and nice.
- All the salt water, sand and pools we had the pleasure of meeting. My kids slept well because of you.
- My parents who made sure we had rides to and from the airport and milk in our fridge when we got home.
Have I left anything out? I probably have. I send out my gratitude to the universe for all that and more.
As my tan fades and my nose starts sniffling on this blustery day, I look forlornly back at that wonderful summer; her golden hair, her turquoise eyes. I will carry her soft warm glow inside me for as long as I can.
Summer is always gone too soon while colder months seem to last forever. What makes you look forward to cold weather (I mean besides wearing boots)?
