The end of Summer is upon us. It's understandable why we would lament one of the most celebrated seasons. However, the thrill of doing everything we want without the worry of schoolwork and seeing all the blockbusters at the movie theater comes with a price. In Dubuque, this is particularly true. Given everything that has happened this year, this Summer turned out to be less "Summertime" and more "Cruel Summer" (either the original or the remake).

The focus will be on three specific aspects. The first is the absence of a "mayfly night". If you don't know what a mayfly is, let Wikipedia get you up to speed. In Dubuque, these rather annoying insects seemingly erupt into these masses that plague the downtown. There's even at least one news story you can find about these winged terrors. This year? They seemed to have come in fits and spurts rather than any one supernova. Granted, it's not a bad thing. It's just weird. When a tradition like this is disrupted, it feels out of place. Maybe next year will bring normality, and another disgusting night of bug infestation.

The second hallmark of a Dubuque Summer is the copious amounts of rain. Of all the seasons, it appears that usually, Summer gets the most rain. Fortunately, there's at least one plan to aid with that rain. The Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project is currently being executed to help with the kind of flooding that Dubuque experiences. And Lord knows we need it, because we've had at least one spectacular instance of flash flooding this year. Given the amount of rain that Dubuque in the Summer, anything to reduce the flash flooding will help.

The last signature of a Dubuque Summer will be the combination of heat and humidity. Apparently, our average temperatures in the Summer months aren't that high (though people who live here would probably tell you otherwise). Humidity, on the other hand, can be quite abundant. Taken together, it's a miserable combination. If you don't have air conditioning or a fan or any way to cool off, may God have mercy on you. The oppressive result is enough to sweat like a hog, which is unpleasant for everyone (and everything) concerned. There was plenty of heat and humidity to go around this year, so it won't be missed.

What do you think are hallmarks of a Dubuque Summer? What will you miss, and what will you not give a second thought to? What has this Summer brought that you won't hold your breath to bring back? Please provide your insights wherever you can! These insights may provide ways of helping make future Summers in Dubuque better, or at the very least more bearable.