Does anyone else feel like we are barreling through this last part of the year? I mean, it’s November 1st, people and while this isn’t me, it is a good number of folks out in the world.
What happened to September? September is like my New Year’s Eve. It’s the end of summer and the beginning of fall. It’s back to school. It’s my birthday. It’s the return of the #PSL. It’s the Super Bowl of the Best Time Ever and now it’s standing on the side of the road getting smaller and smaller in my rearview mirror like Ariana Grande in that Verizon commercial. Girl, you better get with Verizon!
Sorry, I had a brain cramp.
I’m just out of sorts. I’m out of sorts because here we are, crossing the threshold into November, and I’m still trying to figure out how we got here. When the beginning of September was upon us, November seemed way far away. The air was still humming with sunshine, tinged with chlorine from those final forays to the pool. Arms and legs were sun burnished and bug bitten, proudly sticking out of tank tops and shorts. We wrung out every last little bit the end of summer had to offer, arm and arm with September, carrying potato salad and beer to one last bbq.
Fast forward to Columbus day. I went to the craft store to pick up a few things to add some life to my fall wreath. The Christmas decor was already out and the Halloween stuff was marked down by 40%-60%. What the what? Honestly, I checked the date on my watch to be sure I hadn’t Rip Van Winkled my way to Christmas without knowing it. I know why the Christmas stuff pops up earlier and earlier every year, but it’s grown legs in a way that is out of control. At the rate it’s going, we’ll be having Christmas in July through the end of the year.
This morning, as I was driving home from running some errands, I noticed that Halloween decorations have already been replaced with more fall-centric options. The witches and ghosts have been evicted. Turkeys, cornucopia, and tri-colored corn clusters adorn front doors and planters. The arts and crafts projects that came home yesterday were witch masks, popcorn filled gloves with candy corn nails, and paper bag pumpkins. The arts and crafts projects that come home today will be fall leaves, pilgrims, and all things Thanksgiving.
I mean, that’s cute and all, but no. Here’s why — I’m still picking Milk Duds out of my teeth from Halloween. You know — last night.
Side note: do kids still make those two-sided turkey/Native American crafts? The one with the construction paper turkey feathers on one side and a Native American headband on the other? That’s probably so terribly politically incorrect, but it used to be my favorite Thanksgiving craft as a kid.
Maybe I’m getting old. Maybe I’m getting crotchety. Maybe I just never before realized how quickly the seasons change. The holidays start to gain ground on one another once we hit Labor Day. I love the fall, but I want to enjoy it. Would you believe I haven’t had anything pumpkin yet? Can you believe it? What have I been doing this fall? Clearly not enjoying all things pumpkin.
Our schedule is no crazier than it’s been before. We haven’t even hit daylight savings time, and we all know the adjustment that comes with that #blessing of gaining another hour. We are moving through the days and weeks at a breakneck pace. I’m afraid it’ll be over before I’ve really had a chance to put my arms around it.
Two years ago, I wrote a mini love letter to fall, which read,
“It’s opening the lid on beautifully wrapped box. Inside are crisps breezes, jewel colored leaves, and comfy cozy sweaters. I love digging into that box, lifting out puffy vests and knee-high boots, pulling out cups of pumpkin spiced lattes with curling ribbons of steam escaping their lids. There are football games to watch at homecoming celebrations, squashed in the stands between your sorority sisters. There are holidays to prepare for, travel plans to arrange, and menus to plan. There is so much promise in that box.
Fall is the seasonal equivalent of wrapping yourself in your most comfortable lounge clothes, pulling your favorite book into your lap with a yummy snack within reach as you settle in for some quality quiet time.
Fall is the reward for having survived bathing suit season.
Fall is the lull in the calendar between winding down for school and winding up for winter.
Fall is burnt sienna, burgundy, and ocher.
Fall is carefully carved pumpkins, crunchy leaves, and bare-limbed trees swaying in a smoke tinged wind.
Fall is here and I am so glad.”
It’s not too late to for me to unwrap this box and pull out my favorite parts fall season. Fall is still here. Time to embrace it.
Do you have a favorite season? What do you do to get the most from it?