Thinking Out Loud
Long Live Scarlett

November 17, 2013
By: Diane Szczepanski

"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."
Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind

I'm procrastinating.

Although Christmas items have already graced the shelves in stores for more than a couple of weeks now, I have yet to put my patio furniture away or dispose of the now dead hanging plants that are scattered around my yard.

It's not that I'm lazy. Really, I'm not.

Or too busy.

Or don't have anywhere to store and dispose of these things, I'm just reluctant to let summer go and this year it seems I've got it worse than ever.

The more sensible home decorators have slid gracefully into harvest décor with nary a flinch. Those that embrace this season have moved on to mulled cider, while I still have a beer filled cooler on my deck.

I see multitudes of sensible people wearing their sensible shoes and warm jackets, while I search for my flip-flops to run to the store.

My ever diligent friend already has her warm slippers at the ready and the flannel sheets on her bed, while I wrestle with having to keep the windows shut and put my beloved sun dresses away.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

I have lived my entire life in Michigan and the onset winter comes as no surprise. Yet every year I have waited until it's time to trim the deck with outdoor holiday lights, before putting away the lawn mower and moving the snow blower into a more reachable area of the garage.

So, call me a procrastinator. Call me stubborn. Call me hopeful. Call me unaccepting.

Any way you call it, I admit it's a little bit delusional and I promise to stow away the suntan lotion and beach bag before the first snow flies...

Batter yet, maybe I'll just pack it and head somewhere warm for a vacation. There's nothing delusional and EVERYTHING sensible in that idea.