The final summer—not forever, even for me, I hope, but 2024 is the last summer of its type, for me. The penultimate school year came to its close a few weeks ago. And now, for me, summer is starting
So far, it’s been a pretty busy summer of family visits—but a pleasant kind of busy, very different from “school” busy.
I usually feel I have to actively savor the few weeks of break summer represents between the intense school semesters. And yes, I had a working life before becoming a professor, so I understand that most workers don’t get the time off that I do. On the other hand, teaching at the college level is one of those roles that quickly creeps past 40 hours a week—I end up grading and prepping at night and on weekends and at the end of a term, may work 60 hours a week for a couple of weeks.
I watched seven grandchildren last weekend, but there’s nothing to grade for it and no lectures to prep.
Anyway, summer 2024 is the final summer of its type because it comes before the 2024-2025 school year, my final year before I retire from Mount Mercy University. The thing about summer 2025 is that it isn’t going to be punctuated by school looming at its end. It will be interesting to see how that summer feels when it’s not the quick transitory time between busy seasons.
Anyway, late April and May were full of transition reminders, of things that mark the end of this school year as the culmination of college for many of students. The Lavender Ceremony honoring LGBTQ+ graduating students was April 26. On May 3, there was the launch party for PAHA, Mount Mercy’s student literary and art magazine. Then came Scholarship Festival, Senior Mass and, finally, the commencement ceremony itself.
By May 12, the penultimate school year for me was over. And the ultimate summer was underway.
The flower of this transition time, this year and many years, is the Peony, a pretty seasonal perennial that blooms in May in Iowa. In most years, it seems, the bloom comes a week or so after graduation, but in this warm spring, the peonies were already pretty when graduates walked the stage.
Now, in early June, there are still some late Peonies yet to bloom, but the summer flowers are coming on and taking their place. Suddenly, Catalpa Trees are covered in pretty white flowers, for example. Early lilies are getting ready to bloom. Even some Milkweed plants aren’t far from their fragrant, pink blooms.
I know that retirement, when it comes, will represent a new phase in my life, and it’s not always possible to anticipate what a new phase will feel like or mean. I am, however, looking forward to it, to the next summer of my life when summer stretches into fall and I can, health allowing, take full advantage of fall weather for long bike rides in the cool autumn air.
Life is not always what me imagine, of course. What will come will come. But I must admit that I enjoy the idea of this being the ultimate summer—while I’m glad to teach one more year and want to finish my teaching career well, I’m also glad to look forward that summer that rolls into September and beyond.
Life musings ... My name is Joe Sheller and I'm an Associate Professor at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This blog is personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of the university, its administration, staff or board. I love to garden and often find my mind wandering when I'm pondering weeds or flowers. This blog is a pretty random mix of those thoughts, some on gardening, many on life in general.
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