Where Has Summer Gone?

Today marked the last day at work for our summer camp assistant and the second last day for one of the animal husbandry interns.  Today, I was faced with the reality that summer is actually almost over (although weather wise, we didn't really have one at all). As I lay here on the couch, baking chocolate chip cookies and waiting until I can pick Steve up at the airport form his 3 week trip back home, I have been thinking about what has happened this summer, and how fast it has flown by. Yes, I know, it's only the beginning of August, but sooner than we know it, like in a matter of weeks, the days are going to get shorter, the leaves are going to change color, the temperature is going to drop, and the 2012-2013 hockey season, and school year, are going to start.  Where has summer gone?!

I was reading through my daily blog roll and came across an interesting post at The Traveling Circus. The woman, who's husband plays hockey in Japan (yes, they do have a league), was discussing the stress and tense moments that occur between the end of one hockey season and the beginning of the next, and how waiting to hear where you'll be living, when you'll be leaving, and possibly if he'll even be playing, is one helluva stressful time.  She mentions how the weeks leading up to the contract signing are the most stressful and how she would sometimes like to just take it into her own hands.  I couldn't agree more.  For me, it's the lack of control over the situation that gives me the most anxiety. The not knowing. I have to know who, what, where, when and why. Does that make me a control freak? I don't know how many times I said to Steve "When are you going to meet with the coach?", "Please make sure you call him before we go to Hawaii" and then when I finally heard the answer I wanted, it would be "Ok, well don't forget to ask this, this and this." I acted like I was his agent or something (I like to think that after 7 hockey seasons, I know a little something about the game). I'm lucky he controlled what he was really thinking he'd like to say in response. 

After reading her entire post, I couldn't agree and relate more to her frustration and anxiety.  But, once the decision has been made and the contract signed, a GINORMOUS weight is lifted.  We can go on with our lives (at least for 8 more months until we do it all over again). No more questioning and no more occasional outbursts of tears because I don't know where I'll be living come September. We can finally enjoy the rest of what's left of our summer, before the hockey season starts once again. And that's just what we're going to do.  All 8 weeks of it.