This is the time of year when I always felt a little depressed as a child.  The end of summer.  The end of freedom.  The end of life.  Death.  Well, maybe death is a little over dramatic.  Yet, to replace fun, freedom, no responsibility, and playtime with getting up early, bathing, and going to school it sort of felt like a great loss.  It felt as if there should be a funeral, to say good-bye to summer. 

Beach volleyball and all of summer’s friends would come to pay their respects, and someone would say a eulogy that waxed poetic:

“We are here today to honor the memory of our dear friend summer.  She was here for a short while, and her brief life ended too soon.  She will be missed.  School (the evil step-mother) cannot replace her, for she was grand, and beautiful and we all loved her.”

Then everyone will somberly leave the service with black backpacks and that new shoe smell.  New shoes.  Don’t you know it’s a trick!  Your parents are trying to numb you from the reality that your childhood is being stolen right from under you!

Why cruel world?!?  Why? 

It should have been me!!!

…oh the humanity.