As summer draws to a close, a breathless hush settles in the stagnant air. August was a month of beach parties, bonfires, and fast-paced vacations. But in a rushing heartbeat, the dog days of August have passed into yesterday as autumn pushes into the spotlight.

At my friend’s bachelorette party a couple of weekends ago, we walked on the San Diego shoreline, enjoying the golden Californian sunshine on our skin. For a brief moment, time stopped as I stood back and watched my friends. Some getting married, others expecting children–everyone passing into the next season of life.

In just a few weeks, one of my best friends will be getting married to the love of her life. I’m thrilled to be her maid of honor, but at the same time, the nostalgia hits me like a tidal wave.

What happened to those carefree days of high school when we sat by the old oak tree out in the schoolyard to have lunch?

What happened to those terrifying years of college and growing pains and heartbreak?

What happened to our turbulent twenties, when we decided to take control of our destiny?

It’s all an endless blur now. The seasons change, and we’re helpless to stop it. It’s terrifying and thrilling and breathtaking.

So I spun these words in my head:

I watched the world dance past me
That weekend by the sea
Along the white pebbled path it flew
Like clouds drifting out of view

The summers of youth now grow old
Golden sun shivers in the cold
I look up into the wintry air
As seasons shift in an endless blur