There is a very strange thing that happens in Southwest Michigan every Labor Day weekend.

Half of us are desperately hanging onto summer.

The other half have apparently decided it’s October.

You can see the evidence everywhere.

There are still boats on the lakes, people eating on patios, tomatoes coming out of gardens faster than anyone can give them away, and plenty of us wearing shorts and insisting there are several perfectly good weeks of summer left.

Meanwhile, somebody has already decorated their front porch with pumpkins.

Coffee shops have started rolling out the pumpkin spice. Football is back. Halloween decorations are appearing in stores. Cider mills are getting ready for crowds.

And sooner or later, someone will casually mention that the leaves are starting to change.

NO THEY ARE NOT.

We refuse to look. 😂

Living in Southwest Michigan gives us a particularly complicated relationship with fall because we know what's coming after it.

Fall itself is wonderful.

Cool evenings. College football. Bonfires. Apple cider. Sweatshirts. Beautiful drives through the countryside. That first Saturday when you realize you don't need the air conditioning and can open the windows instead.

There may not be a better place in the country to spend an October afternoon than Southwest Michigan.

The problem is what comes next.

That gorgeous orange tree outside your window eventually becomes a collection of bare sticks.

The 68-degree afternoon becomes 38.

And at some point, probably much sooner than we'd like, we'll wake up, look outside and say those five words every Michigander eventually has to say:

"Where did I put the scraper?"

So perhaps that's why some of us hang onto summer so stubbornly.

But here's the bigger question:

When does fall actually begin around here?

The calendar says the official first day of fall is September 22.

Michigan State fans might argue it begins with the first football game.

Others say it doesn't count until you've had your first cider and donut.

Maybe it's the first morning you walk outside and immediately turn around for a jacket.

Or perhaps fall officially begins the first time someone in your house says:

"Should we turn the furnace on?"

And the other person replies:

"Absolutely not. Put on a sweatshirt."

Now THAT is a Michigan tradition.

Whatever your definition, Labor Day weekend is our unofficial dividing line. Summer isn't really gone, but we can suddenly see fall coming around the corner.

So enjoy the patio this weekend.

Take the boat out.

Fire up the grill.

Go for a walk.

Eat outside.

And soak up every last bit of Michigan summer you can find.

Because the cider, football, colorful leaves and sweatshirt weather will be here soon enough.

And yes... we're actually looking forward to it.

Just don't mention the word "snow" yet.

KPVIBE QUICK POLL

When does fall REALLY begin in Southwest Michigan?

A. Labor Day weekend

B. The first football game

C. The first cider and donut

D. The first morning you need a jacket

E. The first time someone asks to turn on the furnace

F. September 22 — because some of us still respect the calendar!