"September"

When I was a kid, I hated September. All of us were re-herded back to SCHOOL, you see.  Years later, I composed a poem which said "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink...you can lead the sheep to slaughter, but it won't make him THINK."  When September came, as a child I felt like my mind was "being led to the slaughter" once again, creativity was PUT TO DEATH there.  I have never, ever regretted dropping out of high school!! Wish I'd dropped out SOONER.

Anyway, when I got married in 1979, my first wife and I ran a business and I was GLAD when September came around...it signaled the beginning of our BUSIEST SEASON, you see!! (Perhaps hypocritically, I was HAPPY that the kids went back to school because mine was a CARPET CLEANING BUSINESS and Fall Cleaning BEGINS when kids are out of the house again!!)

Still later on in my life, September became a month to remember my dear GRANDPARENTS who practically raised me. September 8th this year is GRANDPARENTS' DAY, September 19th will be 25 years since my Grandfather died and September 26th will be 20 years since my GRANDMOTHER passed.

More recently, a couple of "September" songs come to mind at this time of year.  The song "September Grass" by James Taylor (from his 2002 album "October Road") speaks of how GREEN grass REBOUNDS in September after the blazing heat of summer cools off.  Then, the song "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire has special meaning for my new wife and me now.

You see, when my first wife died about 2-and-a-half years ago, I got remarried last year and at our Reception, the DJ played the song "September." To that point, NO ONE was dancing to the music but then a relative, (who is NAMED "D.J.,") got up on the dance floor and danced ALONE as an "ice breaker" for the crowd!!  Before you know it, EVERYONE was dancing and so September tends to have a POSITIVE vibe for me now, here as I'm in the "September" of my life as a 64 year old.

Happy September (yeah, I know, it starts TOMORROW but I don't USUALLY blog on SUNDAYS, Lol!!)






(Photo taken from the Internet...in Public Domain.)