Yes. It’s true kids. And just in case you’ve lost track of time altogether — a common predicament during the summertime — you’ve no doubt seen the terrible signs. The horrible commercials. The unbearable ads.

But, let’s not overreact here, OK? Take a deep breath and just say it: Back … (come on now) Back to school. See? It wasn’t that difficult was it? OK maybe it was, but as a former student who remembers surviving off the Dewey Decimal System and page flipping (not the Internet and Web site surfing) for school research assignments, I can fully appreciate the connotations of those words. Then again, we didn’t have the WASL. Touché.

Even so, August is here and your summer is slowly turning into fall. Before you know it, that first period bell will be sounding and you’ll be sitting there in your back to school clothes, breaking in a new notebook and No. 2 pencil. No doubt, staring out the window at the beautiful day you’re missing. Sigh.

The weekend is suddenly five whole days away instead of every moment. But all is not lost. Think of what you’ll be learning. (OK, I had to try.) How’s this?

But all is not lost, you still have a little more than a month to enjoy your freedom — that’s better. Take advantage of these fleeting days and turn a blind eye to the ads, billboards and commercials. Embrace this final month of carelessness and relaxation and think not of those three little words that spell the end of your summer of sleeping in past noon and frittering away entire days walking around in your jammies.

JOE IRWIN

Editor