Sadly, the longest days of summer are past. Although I can still walk in the evenings in full daylight until eight o’clock-ish, it’s dark when I wake up in the mornings at five. That wasn’t the case a week ago when the pre-dawn glow of the sky was bright enough to wake me up. Now I’ve got to turn on as many lights as I can find on my way through the living room to the kitchen. If I don’t, a) I’ll break a toe on either the coffee table or the leg of the recliner, and b) it’ll take me that much longer to wake up.

Turning on all the lights first thing in the morning reminds me of winter. Winter! It can’t possibly be time to think about winter! The leaves aren’t turning yet! Excuse me while I go find a paper bag to hyperventilate into.