It’s fall. And we have leaves.
Lots of leaves.
The light is changing, and– despite the fact that we transplants are still quite comfortable in shorts and t-shirts– it’s getting cooler.
Soon, the hours spent outside, enjoying the simple things like flipping rocks in search of pillbugs, chasing anoles up trees, and piling leaves will be over. And we will be mostly inside, alternating dreams of really cold weather and feeling mud squish between our toes again.
Of all the seasons, autumn is my favorite. It was my favorite as a child, when it stood out as the time of year when my birthday kicked off a whole host of wonderful events that cascaded towards Christmas.
And it’s my favorite now, as I watch my children revel in the sights and sounds and smells of the changing seasons. Trees slipping from green to orange and dropping their leaves. The slight musk of decay as the soil prepares itself for the dormant time ahead. The more-frequent rains tickling the windows at night.
Soon enough, autumn will have passed us by.
But today, it’s right here, all around us. Waiting to be explored and enjoyed and treasured.
