12 September 2002

Mm, the first post-nasal drip sore throat of autumn. A little early this year, I think, but in previous years we haven't had a ceiling fan to keep the air moving and cool all night.

Or else I'm coming down with a cold. One or t'other.

But at least there are signs that summer is thinking about packing up and shipping out. I'm not exactly packing up my tank tops - we're still seeing highs in the 80s, and there'll be a week or ten days of indian summer in mid-October. And I've seen daily temps up into the 60s and 70s all the way into December.

But it's coming. We haven't seen a high in the 90s for a few weeks, and it rained all last week - not short summer showers, but day after day of autumn rain. It's coming. Those brisk fall days that I love so much, where the sky is a perfect shade of deep blue - not like summer's pale, watery pastels. Time for tart late-season apples and squash and roasted pumpkin seeds and the hint of turkey to announce the holiday season. My birthday and Matt's are both in November - time for parties, or at least gatherings of friends.

There are things I don't like about autumn - there's some spider activity as the first frosts fall that I'm not too keen on, my allergies usually kick up a little, and I do miss those fresh summer vegetables.

But I love autumn like no other time of year. This is my time of year. Holidays and birthdays tread evenly from October through the end of December, and every one of them excites me: Rachel's birthday. Hallowe'en. My birthday. Karen's birthday. Matt's birthday. Thanksgiving. Christmas. New Year's. (Yes, I know New Year's Day is in January, pedant. But the party starts in December. All that's left to January is the hangover.)

Last year everything was clouded by the lingering smoke and dust of 9/11. I used up my holiday enthusiasm, for the most part, celebrating my 30th birthday. But I was so listless by the time Christmas came around that I didn't even bother to put up the tree.

This year, I'm craving it. I'm already planning gifts and decorations. I'm already thinking about baking and cooking. I'm waiting for that first perfect fall day in October that makes me want to spend the day just sitting outside and breathing, the day that is my personal New Year. I'm already ready for it. Soon, now. Soon.

--Liz