Happy Fall!

Yesterday marked the official beginning of fall, and I could not be more excited! The weather seems to be a bit confused, though, seeing as today's high is expected to be a record-breaking 92 degrees. The weatherman (who has been quite unreliable in the past, so I take this with a grain of salt) promises a return to fall-like temps on Wednesday, and hopefully we will then be rid of this sweaty pits-inducing heat once and for all. I'm crossing my fingers, anyway.

Though I love each season in its own way, fall is hands-down my favorite. I tend to forget exactly why I love it so much until it's here, in all of its blazing glory of colors, smells, and crunchiness. I went to a friend's wedding in southeast Ohio over the weekend, and the drive there was so enjoyable (even Sunday morning, as I drove home and fought my sliiight hangover at the same time). The rolling Hocking Hills weren't yet ablaze in the reds, oranges, and yellows that are probably still two weeks away, but they were nevertheless quite impressive. About half of the trees were still vibrantly green, while a pale yellow had begun to creep into the other half. Many of the farms along the highway had not yet harvested their crops, and the yellowish-orange of the corn and soy beans contrasted delightfully with the surrounding trees. Throw the occasional red or antique white barn in there, and it makes for the perfect scenery on a weekend excursion out of the city. I feel sorry for people who aren't surrounded by such beauty every year. I know that the weather on the west coast and in the south is so nice and warm, but to never experience the change of seasons? Horrifying. The fact that the Midwest has such drastic seasonal changes is one of the reasons I love it so much (note to self: re-read this entry in January when I am bundled in wool and snow has blocked my car in the garage and brought every road to a standstill). I love the fall colors--reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and a little remaining green. I love wearing sweaters again. I love fall pies and other foods, and how everything tastes better when you add a little pumpkin and spice to it. I love the smell of the leaves, and the way they crunch underfoot. When my sister and I were growing up, Dad would rake the leaves into a huge pile and let us jump in them while the dog buried her head and rolled around as if she, too, found this to be one of the most simple yet exhilarating activities ever. Later, after Dad had reluctantly dragged the pile down to the curb and Mom forced us to sit down so she could pick the leaf-bits out of our hair and clothes, I could still smell the leaves on my hands and in my hair and my sweater. It was fantastic.Fall has so many wonderful events too! A few remaining county fairs, the annual Pumpkin Festival in Circleville, Oktoberfest, the harvest festival put on by the market downtown, Halloween, Thanksgiving...I'm undoubtedly forgetting some and unaware of others. And of course fall always marked the return to school. I never appreciated that until college, when after four long months away from my very best friends, we all returned to our school on the hill, ready for new adventures. Oh and learning, of course.

I can't really describe why I love the fall so much. It's one of those things where I could ramble on for hours about the various sights, smells, tastes, and events that make me yearn for these precious months to last forever, but I still wouldn't be able to fully explain it all.