Here we are, August right around the corner, and I hear many people still wondering out loud "What happened to summer?”  I can certainly understand that question when you consider the average temperature for Syracuse in July has been below normal, but no where near a record.  Yes, it may technically be a bit cooler than normal, but when we get a day like Thursday featuring sunshine and a high of 80, it's great to be outside and I bet we'd take as many days like that as we can get.
 
I am in a quandary though. We've seen temperatures warm up this week to some of the highest readings of the year, so it's feeling more like "real" summer. On the other hand, August is only hours away, so I'm stuck in a quandary between the heat and the date on the calendar.  I question myself  “Am I thinking more about “signs of summer", or "signs of the ending of summer"?
 
Here are a few "signs of real summer" that I have taken note of...
 
1. The hot dog line at Heid’s in Liverpool has grown
2. Syracuse Chiefs baseball
3. Crunch hockey just had their annual golf tournament
4. The U.S. flag in the pond along Onondaga Lake Parkway (Have you ever seen that?  Every summer, somebody plants a United States flag in the middle of one of the small lakes off the Onondaga Lake Parkway. Who?  Why?  How?  I don't know, but I like it.)
 
On the other hand, here are a few "signs that summer may be winding down"...
 
1. I have seen school buses in parking lots practicing parking with new drivers
2. I'm noticing "back to school" commercials on TV
3. Two CNY National Hockey League players have started pre-season conditioning at Cicero Twin Rinks (NHL training camps open up the second week of September and AHL (Crunch) Camps generally begin the following week)
 
Lastly, the biggest sign the Summer is starting to wind down... is at the TV station. Discussions are underway about our State Fair coverage this year!  The State Fair is now less than four weeks away. Wow!  As they say "Where does the time go?"
 
Get outside and take in as much of the sunshine and warmth as you can. Summer isn't over yet! Enjoy it while it's here!