Don’t let final days of summer slip past you. There’s the S.D. State Fair and plenty of baseball to watch and play

I’m a fall fan. Autumn is awesome.

Trees light up the area with a diverse palette of colors. The weather turns cool but still pleasant. The baseball season heats up, with pennant races and the postseason, followed by the World Series.

Celebrating Halloween nowadays starts in August, even sooner. We saw ceramic pumpkins and ghosts at a restaurant in late July. Increasingly, people love the spooky season.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

Summer is still very much in season. Just stick your head out a window or door. Checking the temperature on your phone doesn’t count.

Summer officially lasts until Sept. 21. Meteorological summer is from June 1 to Aug. 31. So, don’t put away your swimsuits and sunglasses yet. There’s still time to enjoy the season.

So, while the long hours of sunshine and warm weather lasts, and being South Dakota, they are a limited supply, get out and enjoy them. Summer only lasts for around 100 days — make the most of it.

Go to a beach. Get some sun. Take a swim. Just unplug from your responsibilities and daily chores. Relax.

Tour a museum. Take in a ballgame. Travel to a historic spot and learn why it’s noteworthy, who made it so, and what it still means.

Go on a road trip. Check into a hotel and let the kids swim until they’re exhausted. They’ll sleep well — and so will you.

Visit family or friends. They won’t be there forever, and you will miss them desperately for a long time. Share old memories and make new ones.

Go to the South Dakota State Fair. It’s an American classic and all South Dakotans should experience it, ideally more than once. It runs Aug. 27-Sept. 1.

Just take the day off. Sleep in. Enjoy a favorite meal — and maybe that’s pizza being delivered. Americans don’t take enough vacation, and there is a price for our devotion to work and accomplishments.

Summer, and time off to relax, enjoy and treasure life, are vitally important.

Fall is approaching fast. School practices and rehearsals will soon begin. By the end of August, school will be back in session.

Autumn is a glorious time, a favorite for millions. There is a lot to love about it — colors, cooler weather, harvest, anticipation of the holidays and celebrations to come. Did I mention the baseball postseason?

But it’s still summer’s turn at bat. There’s time to make some memories. You can still dive in deep and relish the moments.

The clock — and the calendar — are moving along. Make sure they don’t slip past you.

Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states for four decades. He has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Do not republish without permission.

Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons

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