Holding Onto Summer
has everyone moved on without me?
I’ve been wanting to freeze time lately, much more than at any other point in my life. I’m not sure if it’s the fragility of life hitting me in the face more often, the changes happening in my personal life, or just the general state of the world — probably a combination of all three.
I’ve started hearing and seeing the phrase “pre-fall” a lot along with comments about people being tired of summer and ready to dive into fall. I know it’s not that deep, but it makes me want to reach across the screen and tell them to slow down and just enjoy the moment. We’ve just reached the halfway point of summer. How can we be so tired of something that’s just getting started? Part of me certainly understands the sentiment as I’ve said the same thing many times — especially last year, when Austin, TX had 80 days of triple digit weather, but this year’s mild summer has me thinking it’s something to be relished before a future sure to be riddled with progressively hotter and more unbearable summers.
It begs the question, are we stuck in a loop, constantly moving on from what we have in the present just to rush into the next thing? You hear this season after season. In the Winter, we want Spring. In the Spring, we want Summer and so on. It also makes me question how much we perpetuate this notion in our buying habits. I’m no saint, I’m at the point where I’m second guessing my summer purchases because it feels like Fall is already knocking on the door.
I’m seeing people share videos of their favorite coats and how they need to be purchased now before they sell out. I get it — last year, I bought a coat in October and the pickings were slim, but if you’re not looking for a coat or don’t know which one to buy — don’t buy one just because it’s on sale or it might go out of stock. I bought a beautiful red coat while in Amsterdam last year. If I would have purchased one sooner, I would have never known the beauty that is this coat.
While it can feel painful, it’s much better to buy something full price that you know you’ll 100% love and rewear vs being wrapped in a coat you feel lukewarm about. To be clear, I am not blameless because I very much find myself falling into these thought patterns as I peruse the upcoming fall items. All that is to say, if you know what you’re looking for, go for it — if you don’t, you’ve got time.
I’ll leave you with this before I get too rant-y — I hope you enjoy a sweaty afternoon that is equal parts annoying but joyful that you’ll wish for in the middle of winter. I hope you’re not letting yourself fall into the pressure trap of things everyone is telling you need and need to purchase now when you really don’t. I hope you get to enjoy a cup of iced coffee in the morning as the birds chirp at the start of the day. I hope you get to savor the fruit that will inevitably leave the grocery shelves by the end of summer. I hope that even if it feels like everyone is moving on to the cooler pastures of fall, you get to enjoy a few more nights watching the beautiful, ever evolving tones of a summer sunset.
I’ve had to hug and say goodbye to three friend groups this summer as they made their moves to different parts of the country, so maybe I’m trying to hold onto more than just clothes, warmer weather and 8pm sunsets. Part of me is still soaking in the years of memories that were created under the summer sun, before the hand waves at the airport became a common occurrence while I simultaneously held back tears wishing my best friends good luck and repeating, “see you soon.” Saying goodbye seems insurmountable these days, especially knowing that the summer a year from now will be completely different from any that I’ve ever lived before.
Okay, next week you’re finally getting Mexico City content. I’ve held on to it for long enough.
xx Ofelia
Nice job. I agreeee so much! I wrote a similar piece last week!
Such a lovely read. I really felt this one! I'm trying to hold on to summer for as long as I can, too. x