Autumn, or Fall, as many of us now call it, has always been my favorite time of year. It may have something to do with having a September birthday, or the fact that I really like chocolate and all the stores have piles of chocolate for sale at this time of year. But one of the best reasons for loving Fall is the weather.
I’ve never been a lover of very high summer temperatures despite opportunities to soak up the sun, or freezing cold winters with enough snow to ski from here to Albuquerque. I’m more like Goldilocks with her preference for “just right.”
I was born in Washington State and apparently my internal thermostat is still unhappy with Minnesota’s extreme forecasts even after living here for twenty-seven years.
So when the weather changes to perfection for those few short days, (or weeks if we’re lucky), I want to throw open the windows, spend time out in the yard, and soak up the beauty of changing colors, falling leaves, and crisp morning and evening hours with just the twittering of birds and scampering of squirrels.
Instead, I get the neighbors from down under (and I don’t mean Australia).
They also want to be outside. Not to enjoy a quiet morning alone raking leaves and drinking coffee, or sitting and listening to the sound of crickets in the evening, but rather to scream “Shut up” at their kids and/or dogs every other second, yell back and forth over the roar of their mower, Harley, or radio, hack up a lung while smoking their third pack of cigs, or just leave their three, little, pug-faced beasts out to yip and snort and bark non-stop each and every time I step out the door.
So now you know why I haven’t been able to get a blog out for over two weeks. I can’t think – let alone write – with the windows open. And when they’re closed I just stare through the glass at flame-colored leaves on the tree outside my office and weep for what could have been.
Barbara
Joy DeKok says
It’s my favorite time of the year too.