I was born in the south and have lived in the south nearly my entire life (the past three years are the exception). I love warm, sunny weather. I love feeling the sun beat down on my shoulders. I am cold natured, so winter weather really isn't my cup of tea. Fall weather isn't cold though, it is cool; a huge difference. It provides a little variety and it creates a feeling that is difficult to explain. The best way to describe it is that it's a mix of nostalgia and excitement.
When I step outside and experience the first fall day of every year, I almost become giddy. I think of trick or treating as a child. I start to remember all the costumes that I wore, and the excitement I felt as I came home to dump my pillow case of candy on the floor of my bedroom so that I could sort and pick out the candy I really didn't like. I would always throw away the peanut butter candies that are wrapped in the black and orange paper. (Beware, if you are buying this candy for young trick or treaters, word will get around, your house will be skipped and you will be left with an entire bowl of it.) I remember setting aside the Bit-O-Honey candy for my Mom and the Dots for my Dad. Not just because they weren't my favorites, I didn't mind them, but I knew how much my parents loved them.
Fall weather also makes me feel anticipation and excitement for the Christmas season. I know you're probably be thinking, "What about Thanksgiving?" Let's just be honest, Thanksgiving is the middle child of Halloween and Christmas, and is overlooked by everyone, including all major department stores. Today I went out shopping and every store I went to was stocked with Christmas decorations. I could have spent hundreds of dollars, but decided to wait until it's a little closer to Christmas so as to not feel too ridiculous buying Christmas decor in October. While I was driving around I put Elvis Christmas in the CD player and sang along. I later asked my husband if it was too soon to be playing it and he replied with, "NEVER!" My husband and I feel exactly the same about Christmas. We love the music, we love decorating and we love the gifts. I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. Most of all, I can't wait to spend time with family and feel that overwhelming sense of togetherness that somehow can't be matched any other time of year. Fall is a precursor to all of this and I can't wait!
It's not just me that adores fall weather, I find that it is loved by all. Since I have moved into my new neighborhood, I have yet to see kids playing in the streets. However, today there were several children outside; laughing, playing and staying out until the street lights came on. Even my dog acts differently when the weather starts getting cooler. She goes in our backyard and lays in the cool grass and just looks out and listens to the noises of nature for hours at a time. When she came inside today, she seemed happier than usual.
Right now in my life, when some days seem to have a huge cloud looming over them as I struggle to understand the position I am in, and I feel like I have absolutely no control over my destiny, I really appreciate a day like today. It is comforting to know that, no matter how many months I am let down, I can always depend on nature for a beautiful gift. I just have to remember to keep my eyes and heart open so I don't miss it.
So right now, I am going to stop writing. I am going to soak in as much fall weather as I possibly can, sit outside and throw the ball to my dog. This is the south after all, and this gorgeous fall weather is not going to last for very long.
As for the quote below, I believe that infertility is a part of my spring and that I too will transition to the autumn season soon.
"Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits." ~Samuel Butler
No comments:
Post a Comment