THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER by Penny Dolan

 Today is the start of SEPTEMBER . . .

            

That great, golden, roistering giant has swept in, claiming the year as its own, no matter what. That very name is a call to alertness, bringing a brisk gust of the future, a moment when whatever is to happen might start to happen.

Go, August, with your unreliable promises; go and take your scorched weary grasses and grey clouds with you. Nor you yet, October, with your darkness spread around street corners, seeing off the last of our daylight hours, and reminding us of all the winter months to come.

It’s September that is here now, offering a chance, a second chance, a change, a new beginning, or a fresh pathway. All sorts of possibilities lie ahead, even a moment to look up and stare into the distance and, maybe, think about stepping out and away from tangles and brambles and worse. 

                                                                                                                                            

Come on, says sturdy-legged September, let's go! You might be down-hearted or wearied by this and that, so use my storms and squalls and sunsets to stir up your spirit as well as any late summery moments. Some of the hike might be a bit uncomfortable, but you’ll probably be all the better for it.

Besides, September is quite a strong-minded month, keen to nudge us into order and preparation. It gently bullies us with memories: a need for stationery, for reliable pens and sharpened pencils, for dates and diaries and time-tables and for setting things in order, both in real life and behind the screen nearest you. 

    

The month invites us in, tempting us with strategies and plans and sensible promises-to-self. It encourages us to begin new journals, gather fresh ideas from wells and fields, to wipe the dust from old documents and smooth out that rough heap of crumpled ideas. 

 

It is Seize-the-Moment September, Look-What's-Here September, Check-your-Basket September, bringing all sort of possibilities along with its pear and apple harvest. So why not join up, sign on, try out, taste this - or that?- a little.

September’s just that kind of month. Good luck!

                        

Penny Dolan

p.s. Yes, alas, you guessed. I’ve promised to finished something this month.

pps. Apologies, also, for my missing first-of-August entry. The house wifi decided to fight with the computer for a week or more. Grrr! Thanks to those who helped.