Okay, people, can we talk? I'm here, in my little corner of beautiful Western North Carolina, clinging to the last glorious threads of summer like a fly on sticky paper. I'm talking lemonade on the porch, and maybe just one more swim before it gets too nippy. My internal summer clock is still ticking loudly.

But apparently, the rest of the world, or at least my immediate surroundings, have skipped ahead a few months. I ventured out for some sunscreen yesterday, and BAM! It was like I'd walked into a time warp. Suddenly, aisles were overflowing with plaid scarves and those little cinnamon pinecones that smell suspiciously like they were manufactured in July. Fall sales? Already? Seriously? It's still flip-flop weather!

And yard decor, I swear, half the houses I passed had inflatable pumpkins lounging next to their still-blooming petunia,  I even saw a "Happy Fall Y'all" banner flapping in the gentle August breeze. Y'all, it's still technically summer! We haven't even had a proper Labor Day cookout yet!

Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling this seasonal whiplash? I'm trying to mentally prepare for cozy sweaters and apple cider, I really am. But my brain is still in vacation mode. It's still craving watermelon and the smell of freshly cut grass, not pumpkin spice everything.

So, here's my plea to the universe and the overenthusiastic people with autumn displays: can we just pump the brakes a little? Can we savor these last golden days of summer before diving headfirst into flannel and foliage? Let's have one more barbecue, one more evening stroll in the lingering daylight. Let's appreciate the green leaves before they turn all picturesque and start requiring raking.

I'm not saying I don't love fall. I do! I love the crisp air, the vibrant colors, the excuse to wear oversized sweaters and drink copious amounts of hot beverages. But it feels like we're rushing things. Summer deserves a proper farewell tour, a grand finale of sunshine and warmth.

So, if you or hear me complaining about the early appearance of candy corn, you'll know why. I'm just trying to hold onto the last little bits of summer, even if the rest of Maggie Valley has already moved on. Who's with me? Let's raise a glass of iced tea (or lemonade!) to the fleeting days of summer and politely ask the fall fanatics to give us just a few more weeks! 

WNCTimes

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