As I sit here in my office this morning, the last week of July 2016, I am longing for that first cool breeze of fall. I try to enjoy each season and "live in the moment" as much as I can even in the dog days of summer in North Texas. My husband and I had a conversation in the car yesterday about the changing of seasons. I stated I couldn't live somewhere where there were no seasons. Where it is always hot or cold; the weather never changing. My husband hates the heat!
I sense the approach of fall. Watching football on TV and cool weather. The first time I hear the theme music for Sunday football games it brings all the feelings of fall back. Wearing my boots and sweaters or a warm hoodie. Comfort foods like stew, pot roast and our favorite, taco soup. Even though we are empty nesters, knowing the kids are back in school. Fall brings my favorite holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I look forward to the time when I can turn my A/C off and open my windows. My home gets that fall smell; fresh air and the smell of pumpkin candles.
As a child, fall was the start of a new school year. New clothes and school supplies. Meeting my new teacher for the year and new friends and seeing old ones. High school football games, carnivals and hay rides. My elementary school had a fall carnival every year. It was so cool! Booths setup outside with everything from a cake walk to a gypsy who told your fortune.
I love my home full of family and friends celebrating Thanksgiving. The smell of the wonderful food cooking. Everyone talking, watching the parades and waiting for the Cowboys game. I remember as a child we always went to my Grandma Willis' for Thanksgiving. I would wake up early and lay in the bed listening to the sounds of my Grandma moving around the kitchen. I can still hear her shuffle and her sweet voice. She made the best turkey and dressing!
I love the following quote from Anne Bradstreet. We appreciate fall because we survive the heat of summer. We look forward to spring after the cold days of winter. We feel sometimes that all we have is adversity; bad luck. But without hard times or challenges we would not know good times when they arrive.
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne Bradstreet
