Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. - F. Scott Fitzgerald
What is it about September that feels so promising? I love September - everything about it. I love the crisp in the air, the pumpkin spice lates, fuzzy wool socks with boots, the deep rich jewel tones... there is nothing that is not great about September.
When you start to really think about it, September should be sad and depressing... another summer is over, cold weather is moving in, the trees and other greenery begin to die, summer holidays are at close and we are all returning to our school/work routines. Even those of us who do not get entire summers off know that nothing much gets done during the summer... or should I say, nothing new gets started during the summer. There are too many people away at any given time to consider new projects.
So again, I ask: Why is it that despite all this, September is so full of promise?
It could be that those years between 5 and 18 have so engrained us that we will always see September as the month the new year actually begins. Maybe we like our routines and the daily grind more than we care to admit? Maybe, if you are like me, you just love that “back to school” feeling that new adventures are around the corner.
I have to say that summer 2013 was really good to me. Sean and I spent 3 weeks traveling in Italy and France. My first real travel in Europe – I say “real” because I was in Germany when I was 15 for gymnastics, and didn’t actually see much more than the insides of gyms and stadiums; in 2002 I met up with some girlfriends in England and also spent time in Scotland – but they don’t really consider themselves part of continental Europe. What an unreal trip… I live a charmed life.
August brought my Nan’s 90th birthday – you wouldn’t believe she was 90. She’s got more love and more joy in a few strands of her white hair than most people are lucky enough to experience in a whole life time. My whole family came in from Ontario, the US, etc. It’s so rare that I get to see my whole family – we have our moments, but I was lucky enough to be raised side by side with my cousins at our family cabin in the summers, so I can say with complete honesty that I really, truly love spending time with them. I wonder what it must be like for my Nan to look around and see this enormous group of people (she has 14 grandkids, and there are a LOT of great-grandkids these days), and know that if it weren’t for her, none of them would be here.
Last, but certainly not least, my best friend got married. We’ve been friends since we were 10 years old and seeing her get married was one of the highlights of my adult life. She’s said for a long time now that she was happy in her long term partnership, and didn’t want to get married. So when she called me last spring and told me she was going to ask him to marry her, I was more than a little surprised. It was a whole month of wedding events, with the shower, bachelorette and then the wedding. They had a beautiful celebration at her family cabin, the last weekend of August.
So, like I said, this summer has been great – busy, full of fun and celebration. But the truth is that no matter how wonderful any summer may have been, I still feel a sense of excitement when the air starts to cool and I know fall is coming. I happily pull out my sweaters, tights, boots and scarves and I curse the days that are too warm to wear them. I secretly hope for highs of 15 degrees for the day. I start dreaming of baking apple pies and sipping cider.
Fall holds my heart... it snuggles me in fuzzy wool, and comforts me with delicious, spicy flavours and it wraps it all up in a stunning jewel toned bow.
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