I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow

Well now, here's the end of it. The summer is practically over this August Friday. Gone are my summer adventures, wasting time doing things on the computer, babysitting some great kids, trying to cook new foods, and me contemplating my summer days. I wish summer could last forever. It won't. I know. With all things considered, I do hope to continue this fun next summer: babysitting, adventuring, playing, cooking, and so much more.

So I hope all of you readers, if there are any, my friends and everyone else who may have come along this blog, I hope you stick around and continue this adventure with me.
In the words of Tennyson in Ulysses and
part of which was spoken by Frasier saying "Goodnight Seattle":

"... Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
...

"Tho' much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now the strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow..

The summer's gone and all the roses falling..

Now as I see the sun setting upon the trees and in front of a yielding sky, I feel the slight wind upon my cheek, blowing across it in such a way as to tell me that the brown and golden leaves fall someday ushering the rain and snow we call winter.

This last week, I said some goodbyes and so-longs to friends and people I know who have helped me and have been there as a supporting presence all these years. One day I hope to catch up with them and to tell them how I am doing, ask them how they are, and to thank them for their supportive influence in my life..

Well now, the summer is almost gone and I can see the petals of my mother's flowers falling. Yet another spring they'll grow again. I'll go off on this new adventure, and I do hope you'll stay bide.

And so I face the final curtain..

It is a normal Pacific Northwest afternoon. The sky has the streaks of sun shining through though the sun itself is barely covering itself in the grey clouds to suppress any complete happiness or sadness in any young child.

As high school comes to a start for me and my forever classmates and colleagues, I wonder if I truly am prepared for this new adventure. And as I look and wonder at the past and the present, and my present circumstances, I feel as though time itself is coming to an end.
It is not. I know this. Yet I will continue this journey, this adventure, as a new era in my life.

From the words of Mary Schmich, I will wear sunscreen.

Now do I listen to the words printed on a parchment pasted onto a block of wood hanging in my bathroom.. It begins, "GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE & HASTE, & REMEMBER WHAT PEACE THERE MAY BE IN SILENCE.." continuing on, "Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. .." And Max Ehrmann ended this poem, "Desiderata" saying to "Be careful. Strive to be happy."

And now..

(*sound of blowing through his mouth as if he were tired and through with something*)
As this lovely, enchanting, dull, endearing, animating, and epitomic summer draws to its unfortunate end, I have regrets (yet too few to mention) in addition to satisfaction and contentment. I wonder if I have accordingly spent this summer.

5:43 PM
Alas after much thought, I think I have. I have traveled down Interstate-5 to almost its end and seen most of the grand beauty of California; I have read and pictured the moving events in a county called Maycomb in Alabama, seeing a brother and sister grow, and an innocent black man being served injustice; I have seen great art in Seattle that made me think new and fresh thoughts of the world and of thoughts itself; I learned to make great culinary dishes pleasing to the palate; I have put on a paper helmet, donned a cardboard shield of a red lion emblazoned on to aluminum foil, and with newspaper swords I fought great fiery dragons; so here's to life. (As sung by the fabulous Shirley Horn-) ..as long as I am still in the game, I want to play -for laughs, for life, for love.