I love fall. I mean I LOVE it. I could not be happier that the high temperature today is only 52 degrees. I love wearing sweaters and jackets and scarves… I mean, let’s face it. I’ve never been one to show much skin. And the trees! But my obsession is not only about the gorgeous weather and foliage. I love fall because it’s back to school time, and I love school. (Can you tell?) Even as a kid, I got excited about September, shopping for school supplies, learning new subjects, and yes, even homework. Who doesn’t love the smell of a math textbook or a freshly sharpened pencil??
I also love fall holidays. Halloween is SO much fun–I was the kid who ate all her trick-or-treating candy that very night. And got very sick. In our town, we always did the trick-or-treating on the actual day of Halloween, regardless of whether it was a weekday. And we always did it at night, which was such a huge part of the fun. I think daytime trick-or-treating days before or after Halloween is just sacrilegious and downright silly. The other thing sacrilegious about Halloween? People who hand out those nasty peanut butter kisses… or worse, raisins.
But I digress. After Halloween, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Who doesn’t love eating great food and spending time with family? Well, I suppose some people don’t for very valid reasons, but I love going home. It helps that my mom is a phenomenal cook and my family is very tolerable. And the greatest thing about Thanksgiving, now that John and I are married, is that we still always spend it with my family. I don’t mean that in a bad way–I like John’s family very much. And I know some couples always deal with the yearly fight of which family to spend each holiday with. But we have it all figured out, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are with my family. We do this mostly because my family is the only one that ever plans anything, but also because my birthday (and my brother’s) is always right around that time. So it’s like two celebrations in one!
And then after Thanksgiving, you know Christmas is only weeks away. I’ve never been one to get depressed about the holidays, although I could see how some people do. But I love walking through the mall with all the decorations glittering. I love hearing the Salvation Army bell ringers and seeing the nativity scenes in front of churches. I love anxiously awaiting the first snowfall and seeing all the Christmas lights on houses. I get obsessed with Christmas shopping and wrapping every gift absolutely perfectly. Presentation is very important, you know. All the giftwrap must be color-coordinated. And of course, I again love spending time with my family.
And then after New Years, it all comes crashing down and the cold temperatures, gray skies, and leafless trees just depress me. I feel like I can’t smile again until about May. But from September through December, I am as happy as a clam! Maybe I should write a sonnet about fall or call the local radio station and dedicate “Lovin’ You” by Minnie Riperton to “autumn.” Listeners will probably just think Autumn is a friend (or even my lover?), but little do they know, it’s the season. La la la la la. La la la la la…
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October 10, 2007 at 5:35 pm
carrie
I love fall. I knew a girl once named Autumn — I didn’t love her.
I see you’re using tags! Woot.
October 10, 2007 at 6:30 pm
milwaukeebuckeye
Seriously? Our similaries are freaking me out. I loved school starting. I was the girl that always circled the outfits I wanted in the JCPenney catalog then was allowed to get – oh, maybe two or three of them.
I’m not a BIG halloween fan anymore, though. College destroyed me, I think – too crazy.
I LOVE when Christmas stuff first comes out. I get giddy just thinking about it! And now I get the extra-special bonus of going home to see my family, which is more meaningful now that we’re 500 miles away.
October 10, 2007 at 9:15 pm
tashamort
Thanks for writing this entry. I had been feeling a little iffy about the fall starting and summer ending, but now I am reminded of all the fun stuff that I like doing in these months. Now I’m excited!! And I always try to enjoy it to the fullest, because I, like you, find the months of January-April long, cold, hard, and empty.
You’re also lucky to have the holidays all figured out. These holidays with my family are very important, and the fiance is already asking what days I want to spend with who’s family. Not a subject I want to think about so soon.
October 10, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Jess
I too love fall. I love the coolness, the colors, the food.
I also love Christmas, but I don’t love racing around to a thousand places so no one feels left out. At least we cut out the grandma’s this year.
OSU: I totally did the circling outfits in the JC Penney’s catalog too. BFF!
October 11, 2007 at 1:21 am
abarclay12
I love your post today – so upbeat. I also love fall because of sweaters and warmer clothes. I look so much better in cute fall and winter outfits. By the way, is that your pug? I have one too. They’re the best.
October 11, 2007 at 2:32 am
Jessie
This post is so cheery 🙂 I’m jealous of your cheer.