Yes, we’ve begun to see the signs. Just as the northward migration of birds signifies the coming of spring, it is the wistful and downcast faces of children that reminds us that fall is indeed on its way. And while the conclusion of yet another picturesque season with the South Jersey summer may soon be upon us, let us not forget that while September remains at bay we can still enjoy our time together. Ignore your screaming son and/or daughter, crying about “back-to-school” this and “I haven’t done my summer reading” that. This is about you. This about the waning days of Summer 2017 and wresting each and every moment of rest, relaxation, and solitude from it as you can muster.
We both know there are yet a few boxes on the summer bucket list that remain unchecked: Parties left unplanned, cookouts left unorganized, SJ Hot Chefs recipes left unattempted, we understand. When it comes to summer, we always bite off more than we can chew. It’s the nature of the season. Dad gets it. We’ve been promising to go camping with him for years. “Next summer for sure, big guy!” Yeah and then next summer never quite works out does it? It’s fine he’s not mad. He’s just disappointed.
The point is this, the promise of summer is intoxicating to the extent that we tend to 
over-promise. Maybe it’s to ourselves our kids, friends, or our family – to finish making up that garden by the side of the house, to take the kids fishing off the Ocean City pier, to pack up the car and drive somewhere unfamiliar… There’s always something; something that gets away from us, being further relegated to the back burner. Our encouragement to you is this: as August prepares its final bow, do one more thing.
It may not be huge. It doesn’t have to be. But pick something; a big family cookout with dad at the grill with the good meat from that butcher you like; a few days on the shore for a long weekend with the caramel corn from Johnson’s and pizza from Manco & Manco’s; you could even appease dad and set up a tent in the backyard, leave the phones at home, and roast some s’mores in a fire pit. Pick one. Pick anything and include as many people as you want. Go as big or as small as you like. Is there a book you’ve been wanting to read? Take a weekend and bury yourself in it.
Normally, we talk about food and recipes and the best that South Jersey has to offer but this is something that transcends all that. We love our readers. We care about them deeply. So, what kind of self-respecting internet publication would we be to not have your best interests at heart? Take a little time in these coming weeks, between now and Labor Day and really think about that one thing you’ve wanted since June, back when everything was so easy and it felt like summer would last forever. Maybe there’s something from a few summers ago that you’ve got on your mind. Just don’t let the kids get you down. Seriously, they’ve been complaining about how bored they’ve been for three months, they’ll be fine.
From here to September, it is all about you.
