This week marks the start of fall and wouldn’t you know it my garden still thinks it is summertime.

I have more tomatoes now than I did in August.

And my flowers are still beautiful but now everyone is ready for fall colors and decorations.

Instead of being grateful I’m feeling a little perturbed. Summer is over and it’s time to move on. Nature needs to catch up.

Out with the old and in with the new, right?

Does this sound familiar?

I feel like I’m always rushing to catch up.

What are your kids going to be for Halloween? I don’t know I’m still picking tomatoes out of my garden!

I’m like nature, I like to take it slow and steady – one step at a time. I’ll be ready for Halloween, well when Halloween gets here.

But I feel the pull – to let go of the last remnants of summer and jump into fall already.

We do it to ourselves you know.

Commercialism leads us down the path of hurrying toward the next season or holiday. And we jump into the fray frantically with calendars in one hand and credit cards the other. Fashion dictates our choices too.

We decorate our homes for fall and change our wardrobes. But I feel like a rebellious 3-year-old; I just want my shorts and flip flops, thank you very much.

Why the hurry?

Why does there have to be an “end” to summer (or whatever season we are in).

The other day I said to a few friends that life is just passing by so quickly and there is nothing we can do to slow it down. But we can do everything in our power to enjoy it, right?

So in the spirit of enjoying life I think we should take a few cues from nature. Don’t rush time away. We did that enough as kids – wishing our lives away for a certain age, time of year or holiday.

Don’t do it now. Enjoy the slow pace summer is taking to leave us this year. We have to embrace life not let it slip through our fingers. And we have to take time for the things we enjoy – whatever that may be for you.

It’s hard.

It’s hard to not get caught up and carried away by the ever rushing, ever passing time. But in the spirit of enjoying life I’m going to go pick more tomatoes and resist the urge to throw away those summer flowers.

It’s time to repaint my toes too because those flip-flops are staying out as long as possible.

Contact Kim Hudson at tkhudson@comcast.net.