It’s nearly mid-August and I know I should be really excited about the kids going back to school and for daily schedules to be a bit more organized, but I’m not. I’m going to hang on to every last drop of Summer and hopefully let it seep into my September. I kinda love that the kids get to sleep in and we don’t have planned schedules. I will miss the sound of them in the kitchen making their 23rd snack of the day with their favorite shows on in the background. I will miss the late-night movie fests in our living room when our youngest stays up way past bedtime. I will miss the cicadas sending off their loud mating call outside our bedroom window at night. 

So, for these next couple of weeks, we plan on filling the hours with the delicious combination of sunscreen and chlorine, brightly lit art deco signs in front of our favorite Lakeside rides, and sunset dinners at the park with friends. I know soon enough, we will all be craving orange and red leaves, crisp air and costume hunting. But for now, we will relish in the moment and appreciate the slow lane for as long as we can. 

We hope you enjoy a moment to sit with this issue on your porch. Take in the colorful images captured behind the lens of Kayla Heersink. Her ability to see the beauty in decay is immense and feeds our constant craving for nostalgia. Which, come to think of it, happens to be a common theme here. 

Your neighbors, 

Sam and Shaleen DeStefano