It Ain't Just the Heat

One hot day after another has me longing for fall. But it’s not just the heat and the fact that I’m tired of cowering inside my cool cave of “bought air.” The lure of a more organized schedule, the sense of excitement in the cool snap of morning air, the tantalizing aroma of wood smoke, the hope of the holidays—Halloween with its sense of fun and mystery, Thanksgiving and the opportunity to reflect and be grateful, Christmas with its sweetness and the overwhelming-but-delightful family gatherings...the anticipation for all these things have me pining for a new season. I can’t wait for the steamy hot days to melt into cooler nights and invigorating days. I love the rustle of leaves blowing in a breeze and the way they swirl around catching our dreams and carrying them aloft. I even love the really-chilly, murkier fall days that chase me inside—where I curl up on the couch and ponder the mysteries of life. Somehow these misty days create a sense of expectation, an inexplicable lure of hidden treasures right around the corner. We call them “Secret Garden Days” in our family. It seems perfect that my first book will come out in the fall, my favorite season. But for now, summer still holds more than a few pleasures. Cicadas sing and birds splash in the birdbath and teach their babies how to eat from the feeders. Long summer afternoons lure me out to the shady screen porch, ceiling fans on high, with a good book and a bowl of ripe watermelon. Grandkids splash in the pool, and me along with them ‘cause it’s too darn hot not to get wet. Maybe I’m not quite ready to be done with summer yet, now that I think about it. Still, a few days with the temperature under ninety degrees might be nice! What is your favorite season and why? I’d love to hear about it!