Goodbye to the slip 'n' slide

Goodbye lemonade, iced tea and smoothies,

Goodbye maxi dresses, sandals and smooth shaved legs.

Goodbye to homemade ice cream and chicken wraps and fruity yogurts.

Goodbye to eating outside on the deck, where you can spill and drop things and I will not yell.

Goodbye to triple-digit heat and especially you, 109.

Goodbye thunderstorms that rumbled and flashed in the late afternoon distance.

Goodbye to the slip 'n' slide.

Goodbye to flashlights and sparklers and lightning bugs.

Goodbye sunglasses and floppy sun hats and beach umbrellas.

Goodbye fishing poles and bait that Grant was too squeamish to put on the hook.

Goodbye London and Michael and Gabby and Oskar and Yibing.

Goodbye Carly Rae Jepsen.  You were so cute. 

The first 100 times I heard you. 

This might be just me but, if he hasn't called you by now, I would move on.

Goodbye to s'mores and campfires

Goodbye to sleeping under the stars.

Which I only did once and I hardly slept because there was a cricket jumping around in our tent all night.

Goodbye bare feet.  Goodbye to sunscreen, metallic between my teeth.

Goodbye bug spray.  Goodbye ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, june bugs, moths.

Goodbye to caramel-colored skin.

Goodbye to days that stretched on and on and on and on.

Goodbye to sliding in between cool cotton sheets and watching the fan rotate overhead.

Goodbye to the lazy hours that Audrey spent on the sofa with you J.K. Rowling, and you Rick Riordan and you Suzanne Collins.

Goodbye to being completely warm at last, caressed by the hot humidity of another Southern summer. 

Hello to hot lemon water, mellow milk tea, and smooth lattes.

Hello to mini skirts, boots and textured tights.

Hello to curry, casseroles and treats spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and cloves.

Hello to fires in the fireplace and scented candles.

Hello to pencils and the school bus and spiral notebooks.

Hello to long and peaceful nights.

Hello to snuggling up under the comforter. 

Goodbye Summer 2012.  You were a riot.  I hope you keep the party going in the southern hemisphere.

Hello Fall, it's so nice to see you again.  I missed you.