Why Do I Hate September?

The song by Earth, Wind and Fire, always a bop, makes me forget every time that I don't like September. I couldn't tell you why. One year I had a car wreck in September so that was the reason. Most years it remains as brutally hot as August.

I would say the real reason is a disconnect between the September I want and the September I get. Almost everywhere else, in America, September is the official start of fall. Temperatures drop more than 5 to 10 degrees and wearing jeans and a sweater won't give you heat stroke. In Texas, we have to wait until at least October to wear anything that covers your limbs in excessive amounts of fabric.

Man Repeller came up with a great name for this phenomenon which is bad summer. Good summer being when the sensation of wearing less clothes and being warmed by the sun is refreshing and new. When swimming, hanging out by the lake or other body of water and margaritas are welcomed and enjoyed. Then comes bad summer. The heat remains oppressive and you would like a new season with new aspects to enjoy. The novelty of summer is gone and so is the enjoyment.

Every year September surprises me. I've either been tricked by the fall clothing offerings and back to school sales or forgotten summer doesn't end in September here. The autumnal equinox still happens but has no bearing on our weather. The heat continues. It is slightly less oppressive. I welcome the sight of clouds creating more shade and pleasant breezes.

This year I prepared to be more mindful about the lack of change. I invested a bit more in my summer wardrobe and sandals because I wear these pieces more and longer than any other season. Basically I kept myself from getting bored wearing the same outfits over and over.

I also had a great distraction in Denton. I got to see and meet one of my literary heroes Roxane Gay! She signed two of my books and asked for my name twice. We talked about Texas weather being hot and humid which was great. Not the weather but talking about it. The air conditioning was almost oppressive in the UNT auditorium but better than being non existent. Trying to find parking as an adult a decade removed from my last visit also wasn’t great. But I did get to walk around while lost and pose as a college kid.

I've tried to enjoy my extra month of summer. It is still preferable to an extra month of winter. I'm marginally less sweaty than in August but I’m still counting down the days to wearing full fall outfits of boots, leggings and shirts with sleeves.