So Long, Summer Brain :(

After a week’s delay due to Tropical Storm Irene here in the northeast, school begins tomorrow.  Of course I’ll miss the warm summer weather and my relaxed schedule – okay, no schedule – but what I’ll miss most is looking at my husband, throwing my hands in the air, and saying, “Oops.  Sorry.  Summer brain!”  Kids, do not try this at home.  Instead, start a list of things you have to look forward to in middle age and put this on it.  You can make it work even if you don’t end up working in a career that gives you summers off. 

Now, you know that our kids are grown and it’s just my husband and me here at home.  During the summer, I tell Karl to leave some of the things he usually does himself and enjoy the fact that he has a stay-at-home wife for a while.  So, during the summer he can leave his breakfast dishes in the sink.  Also, I take over watering the flowers and vegetable garden in our yard.  At first it takes him a bit of time to get used to this, and then he gets good at it.  I know he’s made the transition when I find that he’s left me a note on the kitchen counter.   I also know that I’ll have lots to do if the note begins with Good Morning Sweetheart in big letters at the top. 

If Karl writes me a list, things generally get done.  (No guarantees -  Just generally.  Or you might say eventually.)   If he doesn’t, sometimes he’ll email me from work or he’ll just say something during conversation.  These things, as I go about my day, are often forgotten.  A few days later, we’ll have a conversation that goes something like this:

Him:  Honey, did you transfer money into the checking account yet?

Or…

Him:  Did you call the repair shop?  When can we drop off the car?

You know, it’s true what they say:  If you want something to get done, give the task to a busy person.  Well, during the summer I’ m not too busy, so you can guess what happens.  My response to Karl’s queries as to whether I’ve gotten something done is often,

“Oops.  Sorry.  Summer brain!”

After all these years, it’s become our little joke…kind of. 

Well, at least I think it’s funny. 

Remember – Kids, do not try this at home.  If your parents need you to do something, do not say I forgot, or summer brain, or anything like that.  (Also, if I am your teacher, do not say this when I ask for your homework.)  When adults know they can count on you, it benefits you and them in ways you may never know.  But when you’re grown, after years and years of being responsible for a bunch of people in your household, if you find that you’re now only responsible for yourself, lighten up and enjoy it.