Indian Summer

What an amazing day! The temperature is a balmy 70, the sky is blue, the sun shining. Students are running around in shorts and tee shirts - after a season of snow! It makes you want to lie on the beach and relax. People are in good spirits despite the looming papers and the crunch of semester deadlines. I had purely hoped for such a day - one last chance to glory in the great outdoors.

Where does that name come from anyways? Did it mean that Indians were likely to be out and about on such glorious days? Perhaps one last chance at the swimming hole or to bag a deer before the bad weather set it. A tease of a day when you let your guard down, thinking that somehow summer has returned and winter will not come with its icy winds and banks of snow.

I know one thing, I refuse to spend the day inside. I have been saving a list of errands that need attending to - errands that will take me to other buildings. Oh, these are the sorts of things that have no particular deadline, just ideas jotted down to be followed up on "some day" - and today is someday!

Instead of efficiently going from one place to the next, I wisely go to the first building, taking my time about walking, thinking out loud in my head as I breathe deeply of sunshine and blue skies. Mission accomplished, I head back to the library, check in, pick up the next task and head out a few minutes later in the opposite direction. In true Tom Sawyer fashion, I take my sweet time, chat with colleagues I encounter on the way, take a side trip to check out a few things, and afterwards, head back to the library.

Inside again, I do my daily walk through, dawdling by the windows, watching summer play. Then I find another reason to walk campus again. I am sure if anyone had been paying attention, they would have thought me forgetful, having to make so many trips outside when normally I only go out once a day at most. But everyone was too busy enjoying the great day and being happy themselves.

Truth be told, I got more done today of a "blue sky" nature than one could hope for in a month. It was quite productive - and catching people in great moods really furthered my progress. Yes, this is one Indian who isn't asleep at the switch. I may not have made any hay, but I sure enjoyed ticking things off my "some day" list. Hope your day was as wonderful.