Do you see it? Do you smell it? Do you feel it? The very season whose arrival we prayed for during the hot sticky months of July and August has arrived. Autumn is here in all her splendid glory. As you look around you will see the leaves displaying their brilliant colors of browns, reds, yellows, and golds. Each tree tries to outdo his neighbors in a showing of dazzling colors but for this even they all get the gold for their vivid colorations. Now is the time of the year where the thick hot air is replaced with a cool smoke scented freshness. You can literally smell the crispness in the air and the whiffs of fireplaces being used once again.
Now is the season of change. T-shirts and Halter tops are replaced with flannels and sweaters. Shorts are put away while the sweats are dug out. Days of sunbathing at the beach and the poolside surrender to walks through the park and drives along tree lined streets. The heat filled days of Summer give way to the pleasant cooler days and comfortable nights of Fall. Lawns are mowed less frequently. These are the days when children stop building sand castles on the beach and start playing in the piles of leaves that adorn neighborhood yards. Air conditioners are covered up while windows are opened to let in the cool Autumn air. You step outside and hesitate for a moment to decide if you should grab that sweater or jacket, just in case. The days have a brilliance to them that can't be compared to Summer's. The tempatures are just right, it's not too warm nor is it too cold. It is absolutely beautiful out.
This is the season of pumpkin picking, hayrides, falling leaves, and wonderful colorations. Children and adults alike watch with much enthusiasm as squirrels gather nuts for the coming winter. Bird watchers have a field day with the Fall migration of warblers, sparrows, hawks, and sandpipers. Flocks of geese fill the air with their honking, reminding us the Fall is here. Gardeners are busy planting fall bulbs and pruning their trees. Nature showers the land with a blanket of leaves as man battles the endless chore of gathering them up. This is the season of dormer, just as Spring is the season of awakening. This is also the season of beauty. New England boasts of the wonderfully colorful sights along her roads, and by all rights she should. This isn't to say that you can only find the beauty of Autumn in New England. Look around the entire Northeast, along with other parts of the country. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and so many other states have a splender that is definately worth a look. Whether you are in the city, or in the suburbs, or in the rural areas Autumn is abound with beautiful colors and excitement. See the nuthatches and the chickadees and the cardinals come around to brighten up the season with their amusing antics. See the excitement in the children as they get ready for Halloween. Walk down the street and smell the scent of wood burning from somebody's fireplace. Fairs and festivals come alive with season crafts and goods. Fall is alive with color, excitement, and a rejuvenation of the senses. Each season has a specialty all its own and Autumn is no exception.
Go outside. Take a deep breath of the crisp air. Smell the scent of Autumn. Take a drive down a rural road and see the beauty of all the colorful trees. Feel the excitement. It's there. It's in the air. It's all around you. You just have to open your eyes and ears and nose and let it in. It's a feeling that no other can match. Autumn is no less beautiful, no less invigorating. For all these reasons Autumn is my favorite of The Four Seasons. I shall miss her when Winter comes but I know she will be back next year to fill my senses with wonder once again. For now I will just enjoy her company as she is always a welcomed guest.
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