One Last Taste of Summer

I’m still not quite ready to admit that summer is ending, so I spent Labor Day weekend doing what I do best: pretending it isn’t.

For four days, I bounced between my local beach, an ocean beach and the pool, which was pretty much the perfect way to spend the long weekend. After a busy few months, I didn’t need much of an agenda — just some sunshine, a swimsuit, and plenty of time outside. It was exactly what I needed to ease those inevitable end-of-summer blues.

One of the highlights was having a friend come out from the city for a Long Island beach day. The weather had other plans, though, and what was supposed to be a relaxing afternoon by the ocean turned into a less-than-ideal beach day. But that’s the beauty of having no real plan: you can pivot.

So we did.

We headed to The Buoy Bar in Point Lookout, a spot I’ve been wanting to try, and ended up with one of the most delicious lobster rolls. We sat by the water, caught up and enjoyed the kind of afternoon that makes you forget the weather didn’t quite cooperate with our original plans.

There was something fitting about ending the summer this way. Labor Day weekend always feels like a little pause between seasons — summer isn’t officially over, but the shift is already happening. September brings a different pace, with routines picking back up and fall slowly making its way in.

I’m excited for what the next season has in store, but I’m also allowing myself to be a little nostalgic for the one we’re leaving behind. Summer went by quickly, as it always does, but this weekend felt like a chance to slow down and appreciate it before turning the page.