It's often difficult to catch a glimpse of autumn here in Atlanta during September, but to my amazed delight, I have... And I love it.
Autumn is my favourite season of the year, although I don't know if I could accurately describe why. Especially here, it's so refreshing to feel cool breezes on bright and sunny days, as the sweltering days of summer are drawing to a close. It can happen gradually and sneak up on you, or can wake up one morning, step outside and shiver as a breeze creeps up the back of your neck.
It doesn't take much here to feel cooler, though. This is Hotlanta. My toes get cold when the thermometer dips below 70 degrees. And the temperatures rarely dive below 40 degrees, even in the middle of January.
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I think I love autumn for the things it brings with it, and the memories that I have of autumns past... It means going back to school, football games, leaves metamorphosing into their brilliant colours before eventually falling off the trees in grand piles. It means that Hallowe'en isn't too far off; and that is, above all, one of the grandest autumn days there is...
Autumn means digging out your cozy sweaters and woolly socks, and that velvety fleece blanket you keep on the couch to curl up in with a hot cup of tea and good book. It means looking forward to spending time with your family during Thanksgiving, and planning your Christmas shopping. Autumn has always been, and probably always will be my favourite season.
I'm especially looking forward to it this year for a few different reasons...
This will be Ms. Savannah's first autumn, and although she won't remember it when she gets older, I know that I will. And I can only hope that she comes to adore this time of year, as I do. I already have a snugly fleece thing for her to wear out when the days get cooler and shorter. It has Classic Pooh on it, big surprise, and the hood has little Pooh ears on it! It's so adorable.
Personally, I'm looking forward to this autumn since I'm not working this year. Selfishly, I'm so glad to be able to see every day of fall, instead of running through my fall days as I usually would.
Wallace has just started a new job, and I'm sooo excited for him. I think it will be great. And it will mean a new routine for all of us, but hopefully great things will come of his new employment in that beautiful old building downtown.
I hope to be able to go see my parents for Thanksgiving, and visit Pennsylvania too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that will be possible. We drove to see them last Thanksgiving, and I don't want to have to endure that grueling ride again, along with Ms. Savannah. But I'll do my damnedest to get there, for sure. I love autumn in Pennsylvania too.
The only thing we don't have here in our apartment that could make the fall even better is a fireplace. That is the best place to curl up with that blanket and book and cup of tea. Ah well, maybe next year that won't be the case.
I have so many things I want to do, it's hard trying to pin down even one. I want to work on some crafty things... I want to make a fall wreath for our front door, and maybe some other cool Hallowe'en stuff. I'd like to find a costume for Ms. Savannah too, even if it is only for pictures.
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As I sat out in the screen porch this morning, having my coffee... my toes were cold. I'm hoping for cold toes for many mornings to come. And I look forward to watching the world around me change from summer to autumn, and into the most wonderful season of the year.