As they end their search br for fireflies with only three in the jar br I realize summer is nearing its end. br The signs are all around me. br How did I miss them creeping up? br br The tiger lilies that proudly br lined the driveway, br greeting each guest with a br brilliant show of color, br are now nothing more than green br swords waving at the kids as they br ride their bikes past. br The once bright orange blooms br are lying on the ground br crisp and brown br waiting for the next good breeze br to take them on their first (and last) journey. br br The neighbors tree is starting to br change into it's Autumn wardrobe already. br Its uppermost leaves shimmering in the sun br an almost exotic combination of br reds and oranges. br Its message reads as clear br as if it were a billboard: br ''SLOW DOWN- Summer ending soon! '' br br I see even the kids are showing br signs of Falls quick approach. br They're losing that spring in their step br and now are moving along at half-pace. br They seem to sense the upcoming school year br and I can see the dread in their eyes br as if they're losing their best friend br and there's nothing they can do about it. br br With a look of hopelessness br I watch them open up their jar br to release the three fireflies. br But, unlike their usual releases br where they tip the jar upside-down br and shake the creatures out, br this time they just removed the lid br and set the jar on the picnic table. br br They sat there patiently br watching until the last firefly br had found its way out. br It was as if they knew br this would be the last time br they caught them until next year br and they needed time to say goodbye.