Goodbye Summer days.

I hate to say I miss you already, because living in Phoenix makes it hard to miss those hell days that make me feel like I'm melting even while standing in the shade of my porch, but I will miss those cool moments that came along with it.

Those cool moments that involved the taste of sweet chocolate ice cream from a local shop.

Those refreshing refreshers with their tropical tastes. Their fruity raspberry peach ice teas or ice-cold strawberry lemonades.

Those laid-back afternoons in the backyard pool, slowly drifting away like outer space with the fresh waters.

Those hot days when you feel like your skin is cooking under the radiating heat of the sun, and you run to your car for shelter, only to feel like you've entered an oven and jump with pain because your arm accidentally touched the metal buckle of your seat belt.

Goodbye to those endless evenings when the sun would never set, for the daily heat would fade into hot sunsets, and hot sunsets would fade into warmer nights, and warmer nights would fade into late drives with windows down, good vibes in the air. Everything felt good during those summer days.

Everything goes back to those summer days, but everything breaks away during those winter nights.

You can feel it, from days getting shorter and nights getting colder. From it still being warm during the day, but you just might have to drag along a jacket because it's a bit chilly in the morning.

Before you know it, it's time to pull away from shorts and sandals, from beaches and sunbathing, and time to bust out those thick blankets and cozy hoodies.

With the passing of corn crops and Halloween, of pumpkin patches and Thanksgiving feasts, comes the spirit of gifts under decorative pine trees and the smell of burning firewood as it crackles ever so softly.

We say goodbye to iced coffees and frozen yogurt, and hello to hot chocolate in red mugs and apple cider candles on kitchen counter tops.

And hello to the red dining table cloths, the Christmas wreaths on doors, the Black Friday advertisements, and the New Year's Day golden champagne and fireworks.

You start to recognize that familiar feeling you feel every winter morning, when you can't get out of bed because it's so cold, and you feel so warm and peaceful snuggled up under your blanket.

Or when you're curled up on the couch, fluffy socks on, mug cupped between both hands.

And those night walks outside with gloves and boots on. Girls smelling of sweet vanilla and guys hands so warm from keeping them in their jackets.

Those moments sitting in the passenger side of the car and watching how the window fogs up from the warmth and how the rooftops turn white from the cold. Those nights where every single house is decked out in holiday spirit. They eventually look like blobs of light to you, and you sit there as hot tears start to roll down your freezing face. They have never felt so warm before.

And you celebrate this feeling with the act of love and giving, and giving love. Giving thanks, giving gifts, giving quality time. All those bad years, past winters, they don't matter (and they shouldn't matter) as much anymore when compared to this one, with the loved ones you share at this moment.

So until next year, Summer, goodbye.

And welcome, Winter.