Mid August, and most days I feel like, this year, summer never really got started. Maybe it’s the weather, or the political climate, but something feels off-kilter. My potted veg and herbs are in shock; it’s been either torrential rain or temps in the 90s – sometimes in the same 24 hours – every day since they were planted. Sodden pots sit cheek by jowl with containers so arid they threaten to burst into flame. There won’t be much of a harvest this year.
There are two things that mark the end of summer every year – one is the mopy-faced kids who’ve realized that 8 weeks of vacation just isn’t long enough. The anxiety of heading to school – public, high or post-secondary – means summer has officially ended for kids in an abrupt slap in the back and a new set of responsibilities.
There is something so uniquely .. well, Canadian … about how we as a country approach the season of summer.
This year, the majority of us, bruised and battered by the wickedly fierce winter weather, are cautiously optimistic that the sun will again rise over 
the commonwealth. In fact, the big headline in the Toronto Sun on June 3rd was “Weather Network chief meteorologist Chris Scott said everyone can expect a “fairly pleasant summer.” Can’t get more cautious or Canadian than that, eh?
There are two things that mark the end of summer every year – one is the mopey faced kids who’ve realized that 8 weeks of vacation just isn’t long enough. My daughter moved into University residence this weekend as she starts both her personal independence and a long path toward becoming a Forensic Psychologist. My son, meanwhile, starts high school in a scaled down fast-lane critical thinking school (GASP!) for students who want to be community and business leaders. Summer has ended for them as an abrupt slap in the back with adult responsibilities.
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