Even though summer has made its exit for yet another year, I harbor some fond memories from the season that was.

A recent copy of The Press included a photo of North Idaho resident Caleb Baker, 6, who found three 4-leaf clovers in a few weeks in his backyard.

Now yours truly had his share of time spent in the clover patch, trying to find that elusive sprout, and the ensuing encasement assuring that I would be lucky for life.

Unfortunately, I was never lucky enough to bag the 4-point.

Some nights I'd dream of the fields I'd pored through during the day, clovers en masse passing before my eyes for what seemed hours on end.

I guess the old saying, "A watched pot never boils," holds true, as if I'd somehow find a lucky stem just by accident.

But at any rate, I'm happy for Caleb. Maybe the North Idaho variety of clover pumps out more 4-leaf versions that the growths I sifted through in central Montana. Maybe not...

Another memory of summer that will stay with me all winter is lemonade stands. I wrote about them at length recently, but the fact that kids try to fundraise with the old standby just gets me right in the old ticker.

I would like to say that I had some memorable watermelon this summer, but that wasn't the case. Seems that the supermarkets have all changed to the seedless varieties. While void of seeds, most seem to be void of taste as well. I was awfully disappointed. Wait 'til next year.

Another bastion of summer is time at the park. In Post Falls, that means heading to Black Bay, putting on your suit, grabbing a rope tied to a tree and swinging out as far as you can over the Spokane River and free-falling into the coolness over and over again.

Yes, the ol' swimming hole is alive and well.

You also have a front-row seat for all the boats heading out to (or returning from) Lake Coeur d'Alene, some abiding by the speed limit, many others not.

Riding their wakes back to shore puts a little excitement into your activity.

For sure, summer's heat, smells and four-leafed foliage are gone.

I just hope my luck makes it through winter. Then I can try my luck again to ensure I'll be lucky forever.

Jerry Hitchcock is a copy editor for The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2017, or via email at [email protected].