The Month of Lengthening Shadows

Mom liked to say that August was "the month of lengthening shadows."  She liked to remind 

us in emails, that this was a thing she said. And we would recall that she always said it, 

to varying degrees of success. 

One time mom even went so far as to say that August was her favorite month. But how can

 that be?!  When I was born in October??!!!

Last August mom would often sit outside in the gazebo on the grounds of the nursing home, 

and I imagine she took the opportunity to tell the two or three other residents who joined her 

out there that the shadows were lengthening. I'm pretty sure I heard her say it when I visited.

This August, memory of  mom will have to do. And where memory fails, there are emails. 


From the annals of family emails:  

August 7, 2011

Email from mom 

Subject:  Heat easing?

Well, the high today was 98.  This evening it turned cloudy and down to 

80 by sundown.  Quite an improvement.  It helps, now that the days are 

getting shorter.  You know I used to call August, the month of 

lengthening shadows. To me it means that the sun isn't bearing down so 

many hours and there's more shade. We are promised more chance for rain 

this week. ncmom

Michele reply:

Mom, there is no "used to" about it, you say 

this every year!  And before you even say it, 

every August I remember you saying it and 

am waiting to hear when you will say it again.  

Be assured mom, that all of your children will 

always think of August as the month of lengthening 

shadows, as declared by you. You have put your 

imprint on the month of August!  I need to come

 up with one of these sayings.

Suzanne reply:

I always thought September was the month of 

lengthening shadows. Oh my, I have been so 

wrong for lo these many years!  Actually, mom,

 I was riding my golf cart one day last week on 

fripp and noticed that the light IS already a wee 

bit different now.  Those shadows can't come too

 soon for me! Ii am so looking forward to october!!!!!!!!! 

(yeah, laura,,,I just had to use the exclamation mark for that one)

 

August 5, 2012

Email from mom

Subject:  A word from Ness City

We had rain. and so far two glorious summer days.  

The temp today, low 

90's and a beautiful evening. You know, like I always

 said.  "August is

the month of lengthening shadows" The days are shorter and evenings cooler.

I spent this evening sitting out with Rosalinda and Martina Holmes.

On three consecutive weekends, Ness City is the host for ball 

tournaments, in our beautiful ampitheater ball park.  This weekend there 

was one sponsored by Sacred Heart School.  The teams come from all over 

and the crowds are phenomenal.  All I did was cruise by.  Next weekend, 

there will be one for young adults, men and women.  I may have to check 

that one out.

I enjoyed all your commentary about crockpot cooking.  I have a small 

one with the pot that lifts out. I like to use it once in while.

Va. I wonder sometimes about these long obits. Sometime back there was 

an obit on a Harkness girl who went to school here but hadn't lived here 

all of hereadult life.  It told everything she had ever done including 

singing solos in High School.

How can you keep a pantry with seven mouths to feed.?    ncmom

Suzanne reply:

Well, heck, I thought that September was 

the month of lengthening shadows. Glad

to hear your days are just a tiny bit cooler

 now, mom. What makes those temps a little 

more bearable are the cooler evenings, for sure. 

I remember stepping on a sidewalk long after 

the sun had gone down, though, and that 

pavement still radiating heat! 

Here...90's in the day, 80 at night.  so not much 

cooling. And it's so humid, that's what makes it 

misery here. As for a pantry. I guess you answered 

my question, mom. No, it would be difficult 

indeed to keep a pantry stocked with so many 

mouths to feed. 

My reply:

Well mom, I have been thinking all weekend 

that MOM IS RIGHT!  The weather has been 

so much better--dramatically changing in just 

the last few days. It's pleasant now at night, and

 this morning I swear there was a cool breeze. 

I could feel fall in the air. So I'm a believer!  

Suzanne reply:

Well, down here in the steamy, swampy, south, 

we are NOT believers, and we are NOT deceived 

by the mere word "September"!  Not this year, 

by gosh. Every year we look longingly forward 

to September as being some magical turning point

 in our long hot summer,,but NO!  September arrives 

like some trashy streetwalker, more sultry and dirty

 than the three months before her.  Hah! I'll not fall

 for that again.

Michele reply: 

Hey, you insulted my favorite month!!!  

Like a trashy streetwalker??!!!  Sometimes

 September is the only summer we get.  However, 

Seattle DID have summer this past weekend.  

Woohoo!!! It was hot and the skies were blue. 

 The Blue Angels had the perfect template 

for their show, hundreds of boats were on 

Lake Washington and the crowds on the 

shores were insane -- sun worshippers who

 never get to see the sun were finally having 

a day.  My neighbor was improvising a sprinkler

 with her garden hose, spraying her delighted 

3-year-old -- that was fun to see because, believe 

me, it isn't often that anyone in Seattle is hot enough 

to want to play in the water.  It cooled off in the 

evening but my room upstairs did not, so I stayed 

on the couch until the early hours of the morning.

  Now we are back to clouds.  I think it may be

 around 80 today. 

Sorry you all are suffering such miserable heat. 

Suzanne reply:

Sorry...i'm trying reaaallllly hard to be happy

 for you mich. I do remember that time we came 

to visit, and it was in September, and the days 

were glorious,,the evenings cool.  Chilly, even. 

I'll go to my "happy" place in my mind...perhaps it's seattle.  

  

Aug 18, 2013

Email from mom

Subject:   August--the month 

of lengthening shadows

My favorite month-- for starters!  

These past few 

weeks have been rare 

indeed.  Too much rain in eastern 

Kansas, but what we've had has just 

transformed this desert into an Eden.

I have not used the A/C for days.  

And by now, the flowers around town 

are hanging over the side of their pots 

and just magnificent.  I have 

one large pot of petunias south of the 

house that I started from seed.  

Then geraniums are outdoing

 themselves on the front porch.

 It's amazing 

what a little rain and cooler weather

 can do. Just had to share.  ncmom

Suzanne's reply:

Wha??? okay, now i am confused. I thought 

september was the month 

of lengthening shadows!  Every year it gets 

earlier for you, mom.  Anyway,,August...

NOT my favorite month.  But more about 

that later.  Yes, it is truly inspiring what rain 

does for green life in general.  All that 

nitrogen. So happy to read that ness city is 

blooming wonderful! 

My reply:

Yes, mom, I was amazed at how GREEN 

everything was when we were out there. 

Normally by this time of the summer I am

grateful for those lengthening shadows, 

grateful for a sign that relief from the heat

 is on the horizon, but we've had so much 

cool and rainy weather, I'm not feeling ready

 for summer to go yet at all. 

Guess it's supposed to get hot this week. 

I welcome it --but Sue, I feel for you. 

Hope you get some relief soon.  

October 12, 2015

Email from Michele

Subject: Re: Your blog 

Mom, there was something she missed 

and I was going to remind her, but then 

I couldn't think of the exact words you use. 

  Every August, I depend on you to 

remark at least one about how it is the 

month of lengthening shadows, or something 

like that.  Can you tell us what it is you say, 

so we can have it for all posterity?

(Mom's reply missing from my email)

Sept 16, 2017

Email from Mom

Subject: A Grand Finale

I hope the past few days are an end to 

the 90 plus temps.  No time to 

read e-mails now.  ncmom

Michele reply:

Mom, I was waiting for you to say the 

thing you used to say every year: 

"August is the month of lengthening 

shadows".  Did you say that to anyone?  

I was waiting and waiting, and then 

August was over and I don't think you said it.