Dear Reader
I am feeling somewhat nostalgic .We are having only one month of
full summer ahead and people around me are starting to speak of
the coming fall! The first promotions for events typical for
that season are coming in, notices of folks that have left us
for good are abounding, the last picnics are announced, back to
school data emerges…. And the list goes on, all items signifying
the end of summer.
I find that depressing to the extreme. Thus, outside of the work
environment I have given orders not to visit that subject in any
shape or form until it is actually upon us. I do not want to
hear it or see it until it becomes so self-apparent that is
unavoidable. I chose to live in a delusional state until then!
And when it starts to be actually evident I shall fight it with
everything I got and make summer last as much as possible. I
still plant a few new summer flowers now as though it is the
beginning and not the end of the season.
 When we sit in my garden in the morning for breakfast we also
feed the birds and the squirrels. We live in a well established
neighborhood that has quite a few big old trees and wildlife
abounds in these monumental structures. Their canopies are not
too dense, thus a bit of sunlight always dances through the
branches, also allowing for a breeze to waft through the garden.
We forget that we are in the middle of a metropolis and think
instead that we are living outside the city.
Since we are early birds and the neighbors tend to sleep in
late, especially during vacations and weekends we appear to have
it all to ourselves. Summer creates an oasis around our house,
since we are often even alone at home, while friends and the
neighbors are at the cottage or vacationing elsewhere. This year
unfortunately some have fallen ill, and we wish them a speedy
recovery. When we have enough of the city we escape for a day to
Lake Erie for some big water, big horizon, wind, sand and lots
of gulls. Of course we go during the week, when the beaches are
much emptier than on the weekend. Sitting on a dune with a
steady wind blowing off the lake, an easy read and some good
food for picnicking make for an amazing change from city life.
We cannot go longer than a day because of our 4 cats. I know,
cats can last a couple of days without someone being there, but
only if they coexist in peace. We have one that is a fighter and
another which is food envious. These situations need to be
monitored.
When in the city weekend picnics of the clubs and improvised
lunches with friends make for pleasant diversions. And if we
want music, well this summer the city offers more concerts than
ever before. I do not attend all picnics, but someone from Echo
Germanica usually does, as happened at the Burgenlaender Picnic,
from whence the front page was shot during the open air mass.
The Remembrance Society’s Picnic we could not attend at all,
even though we wanted to. The invite arrived too late due to the
cursed mail strike.
So, let us all enjoy summer to the fullest, until it really has
disappeared. In the meantime: Pschhhhhst! Not a word!
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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