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.