Today is September and I feel like I've just finished a race.  Not one of those kinds where you glide across the finish line with the graceful stride of an Olympian with your arms stretched up into the air in celebration of your impressive performance.  No, this was more like hobbling over the finish line with bleeding blisters, shin splints, severe dehydration, heat exhaustion, and hallucinations.  Then, collapsing to the ground and crying until snot runs down over your lips and onto your chin then falls in blobs down to your sweat-stained race bib. 

Sometimes, you just can't worry about how you look when you're on the race course.  You can't get bogged down in what others are thinking about how gracefully you may have performed or how foolish you may have looked.  People will talk and they may even laugh at how awkwardly you competed.  Let them talk. The important thing is that you finished even if you dragged several hurdles along with you and your electrolyte imbalance was at life threatening levels.  Not all wins are picturesque.    
Today is a mental victory.  It is a day that signals triumph.  September 1 means that I have survived all that the Mississippi sun and southern humidity could throw at me and I have limped, without the tiniest shred of dignity, over the finish line.  It wasn't pretty.  It wasn't even bearable to watch.  You might even say that it was a downright ugly performance.  But, I finished.  June, July, August.....the trilogy from Hell.  Done.

Now, I'm not delusional.  I know that, for Mississippi, the summer sun has a lot of tricks left up its sleeve.  Just because Brach has shipped the candy corn and mellowcreme pumpkins to Wal-Mart does not the cool weather bring.  The southern seasons don't take their cues from the sudden appearance of cinnamon brooms at Hobby Lobby.  We must not lose sight of the fact that there is still much hardship to endure.  But, the worst is behind us. 

In the meantime, the jack-o-lanterns and cornucopias at TJ Maxx will replenish our fluids.  The sound of college football on our televisions will help us recover our strength.  The addition of pumpkin spice to every possible menu item will restore our will to live.  Fall-toned M&Ms will help us to lift our heads and want to race again, one day.  And the first leaf we see fall, even if it was burned slammed to death by the hellacious heat and was literally scorched from its branches, well, we will still find victory in its descent to the ground.  We don't so much care about why the first leaf falls, only that it falls.   

So, that's where I am.  My steps are a little peppier.  My voice is laced with more excitement.  My outlook is brighter.  My confidence is high.  This is my time.  A lot of sweat and tears have gone into this victory.  A lot. You all know this is one of the most difficult races for me.  Thank you for your support. 
Y'all have a good holiday weekend!