CEO Blog

Well, the sun's not so hot in the sky today
And you know I can see summertime slipping on away - James Taylor

I like September. 

It’s still summer. But the days are getting shorter. It’s dark now when we go out for Ted’s early morning walk. It’s still warm, but the sweltering afternoons of July and August are past. You don’t need your jacket, but if you have it with you, you won’t be the only one. It’s the time of year when you don’t need to run the furnace or the air conditioner. Football is getting started, and baseball heads into the playoffs (at least in a normal year.) 

September shows up in a lot of song lyrics. James Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, My Morning Jacket and Willie Nelson all have songs about September. There are many others. There are probably a lot of reasons why: rhyme and meter, to be sure. But it is also a month that is rich in symbolism. September is a time of harvest. A time of renewal. It’s also a time to reminisce. 

Many of the songs about September reflect a longing for good times, childhood friends, an old flame. Others celebrate the beginnings of long-lasting relationships. Earth Wind & Fire’s September is heard at thousands of high school reunions and wedding receptions. 

Some September songs are pledges to stay together. See You in September is a promise to reconnect once summer vacations are over. Willie Nelson’s version of September Song paints a picture of two lovers growing old together. 

Oh, the days dwindle down
To a precious few
September, November
And these few precious days
I'll spend with you

September marks the end of summer, but it is also a time of beginnings. New school year, new job, new schedule. It’s a return to routine, getting back to normal. Or maybe a new normal. How many times have you heard a coach proclaim that “this will be our year!” In September, all is possible. 

September is Healthy Aging Month, an opportunity to celebrate the positive aspects of growing older. It is a time to take stock of who you are, and what you want to be. A chance to reinvent yourself. What have your learned from those Septembers? And what to you want to become? It is never too late to start. Start a new exercise regimen. Take up a new hobby, or rediscover an old one. Healthy aging is not just about physical fitness. It’s also about taking care of your mental and emotional health, nurturing important relationships, and finding meaning and joyfulness in your life. 

And if you are looking for September songs for your playlist, you might listen to some of these: 

September Grass – James Taylor

September Song – Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra and others (Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson)

See You in September – The Tempos, The Happenings (Sid Wayne/Sherman Edwards)

Wake Me Up (When September Ends) – Green Day

Sweet September Morning – Buffy Sainte Marie

One September Day – Nina Simone

September - Earth Wind & Fire (Al McKay/Maurice White/ Allee Willis)

September Morn – Neil Diamond