Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer's out of reach

Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I'm driving by your house
Though I know you're not home 

Kids are in school. Workers back to the ant hive. It's still hot as hell. Upper nineties for the last few weeks.

That leaves the pool at my gym just about perfect. The water warm and clear. Just like my memory before things got cold and muddy.

I dive in like a time warp. I hear long silent laughter and squeals.

Alone in the pool of dreams I swim and soak in their warmth.

Getting old sucks. At some point everybody you give a shit about has died.

You have to wonder why am I still here?

Is it some cosmic punishment to outlive your family, lovers and friends?

Is it supposed to hurt like this?

Scotch would help but, no. I'm sober for this horror show.

You have to find new joys. Like this pool, abandoned for the summer but still perfectly serviceable.

Clear, clean and free of toddler piss.

Even in September there can still be joys. Even the small ones matter.

Maybe, even especially, the small ones matter.
 

Lyrics from the Boys of Summer by Don Henley