august, fully loaded...

just when we get

deep into the delicious ease of july-

that sandy, joyful, barefoot, afternoon-napping bit of summer...

august arrives-

uninvited.

august is...

hard.

and fast... too fast...

heavy rememberances

dreaded goodbyes

twisted and mixed up with

joyful celebrations

 wham! bam!

and it's over-

like a tornado

through your soul

and then...

there your are.

exhausted. 

battered. 

and standing, yes... standing...

but alone

on an empty beach

everyone gone

but so not forgotten...

and every year it just feels harder-

this deep-in-your-bones emptiness

and here we are

home

but so.very. homesick.

for our tribe.

and those summer days

we wait all year for...

all of a sudden, we are here...

sitting on the edge of fall

not ready for the jump-

but before we can even take one last breath

school and meetings and a calendar full of appointments

are pushing us in.