Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Today is the last day of official summer, even though I believe summer ends for all intents and purposes on Labor Day. That’s when most beaches close, most schools open, and most people revamp their schedules to accommodate new routines. Even though I no longer have children in school, I am among those whose schedules need tweaking.

When today shows up, I’m already in sync with autumn, having put three weeks’ worth of work into the effort. I’m geared up for fall. At the same time, being the compulsive clock watcher that I am, I realize that today is really still summer.

So Earl and I celebrated by biking about 16 miles on the Kal-Haven Trail, a 35.5 mile bicycle trail created from an abandoned railroad bed that runs between South Haven, Michigan, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is truly God’s Cathedral, as the overhanging branches from mature trees provide a canopy of comfort for every cycler and a reminder of divine creation that surpasses steel skyscrapers and concrete condominiums.

We then celebrated summer’s demise at Gallagher’s in Paw Paw, Earl with a Guinness® and me with a nondescript lite beer. That was before our patty melt and bratwurst arrived. After that, we headed home for a nap and the sunset and a mellowed-out evening where we privately and silently said “Goodbye” to summer. See you next year!