As we approach the autumn equinox, I’m aware of signs that summer is ending. The days shorten, the nights get cooler, and I have even seen a few flocks of Canada geese heading south. (And I have still only gotten a handful of tomatoes!)

I await the beginning of school next week with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I think it’s time that Pooch’s One Dog Pre-Teen Entertainment and Transportation Provision Co. take an extended break. On the other, I can foresee the beginning of a long string of volunteer requirements and holiday preparations that can leave me exhausted well into February. Dad Pooch might say that I’m “borrowing trouble,” and perhaps I am. Maybe I’ll just concentrate on hoping for good teachers all ’round!