The D Spot

So the summer flew by and we are facing labor day already.
::sigh…::
I cleaned out my garden this week, pulling the bits of grass and debris that took root, and trimming off the flowerheads that had seen better days. I found a rogue sunflower in the middle of it all, and realized that citronella REALLY likes to grow there.
Kind of sad, getting a garden ready for bed. There are still blooms to open of course, and my asters haven’t even started yet; but still, there is no sign of the tulips and daffodils that are sleeping beneath the warm earth, and I had to cut back my bleeding heart (finally). I left it up until the spiders that are born there every year had taken flight to their own homes.
Tank tops and shorts are soon to be replaced by fresh and crisp school clothes.
Alarms will have to be set again.
The neighborhood will be come strangely quiet at 7am, and will remain so until almost 3 pm…five days a week!
I used to look forward to this time of year when my kids were little…when I’d just about reached my limit of the bickering and bothering that brothers and sisters do.
(One year, one of the moms gave the bus driver gourmet cookies on the first day, to thank him for taking our lovely children away.)
Now however, when my life is more clearly able to be measured in seasons, I feel my own autumn beginning in my bones, and it makes it sad to see it reflected in the garden.
My hair has gone from blonde to brown, and now carries the hints of grey. Crow’s feet have settled into the corners of my eyes, and I have to tell myself “they are smile lines” more often than I used to.
Joints ache on those cool early mornings and I find myself oftentimes going to bed before my children.
Yes, autumn is coming to my garden soon.
My flowers are sprouted and grown, and ready to spread their petals to the sun.
And I am ready to remain, to root myself into the Mother Earth, to smile and nod over the newer sprouts, and to slumber under the earth when the weather becomes too chill.
After all, spring does come again..that is part of the promise.
And I will dance in Summerland with hair once again blonde.