Calm would be the word for mid- September at Jocassee. Dry for the most part, in the absence of tropical weather. Cool at daybreak, swimmably warm by noon. The throngs are gone-football and school- so gone too are the long lines to get in the park on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s time for fall migration, so it’s time to be looking up! Time to watch for ducks flying overhead while out on the big water of the basin, time to see monarchs flying by on their way to the mountains of central Mexico, time to see raptors overhead, heading to the tropics, and maybe even time to see our first Jocassee loons of the season. It’s a few weeks early for that, but two were spotted on Lake Keowee this week, and one on Jocassee. Things are looking up in September, don’t you think? So who said there is no room for optimism. ~B