The Cool Creaps Into the Air

Autumn. I love this time of year. There's a moment in the fall when you realize that summer has truly passed. Maybe you hadn't noticed the crimson creeping into the scene, or a smell in the air... And then, it hits you. It is a melancholy moment, but strangely you nearly always look forward to it, and are glad when it transpires. Perhaps it happens via a gust of wind that carries with it a crispness you haven't felt in some time, or a moistness that's been lacking of late. You take notice of all the usual signs: the changing colours in the trees, the growing darkness that comes more quickly in the north, the bigger more dramatic clouds & rain. We spent the weekend in Victoria and all of these things came to pass. Just that much closer to the vast Pacific Ocean, we witnessed the wind gusting familiarly, recalling old memories. It reminded me of going to school in September as a kid and the cool, damp walks to school through the neighbourhood in the mornings. Back then, there were still the last solemn plots of land with orchard trees standing silent in the suburb, like they were maintaining some kind of vigil. Halloween was special. There's a great White Stripes song "We're Going to be Friends" that I think captures aura of it. Does anyone let their kids walk to school anymore? Mateo in his little sweater and vest, running in the park against the wind, his laughter floating on the gusts, picking up fallen leaves... I tell you man, pure happiness. And I didn't even mention the fresh apple pie!