I only hoped some of what I said to him had sunk in, otherwise he just might sabotage himself right out of something good.”
CHAPTER 17
By the time the house settled into afternoon quiet, I was ready to reclaim a bit of control.
Mo had claimed his usual spot near my desk chair, stretched out but alert, as if neighborhood security depended entirely on him. Roxie occupied the bookshelf to the right of my desk, tail draped lazily over the edge, supervising in her own superior way.
I opened my laptop and pulled up the draft of my special end-of-August newsletter, having finished the previous one.
Labor Day was on the horizon. Most people saw it as one last hurrah of summer—sales, barbecues, maybe a pool party if the weather held. I saw it differently.
Transition season. That small window between chaos and cold.
I typed the working title across the top:Before You Pack Summer Away…
Because that’s where people make their biggest mistake. They shove things into storage and forget about them until next May. Then they’re surprised when the grill won’t light, the patio cushions smell like mildew, and the cooler latch snaps off the first day they need it.
I continued typing.
Preparation isn’t panic. It’s prevention.
First: the grill. If you don’t clean it properly now—deep clean, not a quick scrape—you’ll regret it. Grease traps harden over winter. Burners clog. Spiders move in. Yes, spiders.
I made a note to mention that. Readers always underestimate spiders.
Second: propane levels. Don’t store a tank that’s nearly empty. Refill it before winter. Cold months are when shortages happen, and I prefer not competing with panicked shoppers in January.
Third: patio furniture. Wash it. Dry it completely. Store cushions in airtight bins with moisture absorbers. If you don’t have bins, heavy contractor bags, double-layered, will do in a pinch. Label them clearly. There’s nothing worse than digging through ten mystery bags next spring.
Mo let out a soft huff in his sleep.
“See?” I murmured. “Preparation leads to peaceful naps.”
Roxie flicked her tail in disagreement.
I moved on to coolers.
Most people drain them, wipe them once, and call it good. That’s how you get lingering odors and warped seals. Better to wash with a baking soda solution, let them air dry fully—fully—and store them slightly cracked open so moisture doesn’t trap inside.
I added a line about checking zippers on insulated bags and replacing ice packs that had begun to swell. Small expenses now saved frustration later.
Pool supplies: Even if you don’t own a pool, inflatable floats and kiddie pools need to be dried, powdered lightly with cornstarch to prevent sticking, and stored in breathable containers. Filters should be labeled and reordered before winter, so they don’t vanish from inventory by spring.
I paused to think, then continued.
Garden tools: End of season is when rust quietly begins its takeover. Clean soil from shovels. Oil wooden handles. Sharpen pruners before storing. Make a list of what broke this year —hoses that cracked, sprinklers that sputtered, gloves wornthin at the fingertips. Buy replacements off-season when prices drop instead of scrambling in April.
That was the real trick. Preppers didn’t just store. We observe, adjust, and learn.
I added one final section:
Make A “Next Summer” List Now.
Not in March. Now. While you still remember what ran out too quickly.
Charcoal.
Paper plates.
