So long, summer

So here we are, Labor Day weekend. The "official" last weekend of summer (even though fall doesn't start until September 22nd). I'm always sad to see the summertime end - there's a certain sense of ease and relaxation that comes with summer, and it always disappears in the fall. I can always tell when the weather is getting ready to change, because the air in the morning smells remarkably different. I know for sure fall is coming when I smell that unmistakable morning smell - it's the smell that, to this day, still turns my stomach a little bit - not because of the odor, but because of the strong connection I established with the first day of school. I always used to get nervous on the first day of school, but for some reason, the smell of the morning air always made it worse. It reminded me that summer was definitely gone and fall was on its way; that the carefree days of sleeping in, running through sprinklers and eating popsicles were being replaced with homework, getting up early and new teachers.

When I left for work this morning at 6am, I noticed as soon as I opened the garage door that the smell had returned, thus signaling the beginning of the end of summer.

Isn't it incredible how your brain attaches memories to scents? The human body never ceases to amaze me.