I’d be lying if I said I was one of those kids eager to get back to school each September. You know the ones… they loved how school smelled; couldn’t wait to impress their new teacher; itching to organize their binders and school supplies; and with paper and scissors in hand, chomping to make colourful covers for their textbooks. Sheesh!

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind going to school once the year was in full swing – there were many years when I had perfect attendance. It was just the notion of going back after summer that seemed unbearable. Come to think of it, that’s how I felt at they end of any vacation in my subsequent working years. I guess I thrive on escape from the ordinary. The same-old-same-old punctuated with periods of something new.

It’s August now and it makes me think back to summer days that had no plans. They unfolded with a call from a friend with an idea of something to do. Or they played out as a quiet morning contented to sit in front of the TV absorbed in an endless stream of cartoons. It was those TV days late in August that would be the forbearer of summer’s end. Commercial breaks filled with promos for the new fall lineup and reminders that new episodes of favourite shows would replace tired reruns. But then it would happen — the dreaded mention of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon — it aired every year over the Labour Day weekend and was a distinct reminder that when the telethon was over, the start of school was no more sleeps aways. Hang in there everyone!

To celebrate the return to work for many of you after summer vacation, next week I’ll post a fun listing of the worst jobs I’ve had (and there are some doozies). They should make you feel better about what you may be facing on September 8.