After the 4th

Spent a really great weekend at the Padres' Casa for the 4th of July. My siblings and I and our families all landed in our hometown to eat Mom's apple pie, burgers, dogs, watermelon and smores. The cousins ran through the sprinkler, caught fireflies, lit sparklers, went to the park and fed the ducks, and slept lined-up like little fleece sausages on grandma's living room floor. It really couldn't have been more obnoxiously cliche--but we all loved it. The dirty, grassy feet, too many people in the kitchen, negotiating for shower space, mom's cinnamin rolls, my parents are hell-bent on giving their grandchildren as many memories as possible, and I adore them for it.

 And then we came home to the "after 4th of July" feeling.

It is too quiet outside--and suddenly the heat doesn't feel fun and warm--just hot.

Went to the pool today and instead of it being lively and freeing, it was loud, annoying, and too wet.

Eight-year-old and I went to local grocery store this eventide, and we saw the nice stock boy shoving the plastic buckets and rakes and cheap yard toys down to an end-cap to make room for the school supplies. I said, "Look honey, they are putting the school supplies out already!" to which eight-year-old replied, "Yeah, Mom, school is going to start again soon ya know-they always do it that way. I'm not surprised." Well. Thank you for the wise resignation little man!

And now I'm in jammy pants and a sweatshirt-not quite ready for school, yet knowing at this point we are closer to the beginning of football then to baseball. And it is always this way after the 4th. And people go away too long on vacations-getting them in before August--and I'm always a bit at lose ends when friends and family are not "were they should be"--even if I didn't plan to talk with them or visit--it is much better when we are all in our rightful places. Oh, and the trees even start to look a bit bored and wearisome from holding their heavy green leaves knowing that they will labor until well into September yet. Funny thing this July business, especially after the 4th.