Hello, Cold!

There is something magical that happens this time of year. It’s a subtle thing, you might not even notice it at first. Your alarm goes off as it always does, you stumble into your clothes, brush your teeth in your half-conscious, zombie-like fashion, put in your contacts, and go downstairs. The puppy is vibrating with anticipation of being let out of his pen and can barely contain himself as you get your shoes on. You put his leash on, unlock the door, and step outside. You get halfway around the block before you notice it- you’re shivering.

It is so cold outside that not only is your light shirt not warm enough, but you need a jacket as well. And there’s a chill in the breeze, the kind that makes you want to run inside and hide under a nice, warm blanket. And those horrifically annoying cicadas which have been making a constant chorus of noise all day and all night for so long are gone. Replaced by the sound of the wind blowing through the leaves in the trees. You look up and you realize: fall is coming.

I love the cold. I love sweaters. I love jackets and scarves and gloves. I love that there’s a utilitarian purpose for knitting again. I love rosy cheeks and noses and needing to keep your hands in your pockets. I love that a cold breeze can draw a gasp from you. I love needing warm socks.

Fall is the best season for cold. The air is crisp, the sun is warm, the wind is blowing and there’s this scent in the air. Maybe it’s all the crops being harvested, maybe it’s the smell of the apples as they drop off the trees and get eaten by squirrels, maybe it’s all the baking that’s going on. All the icky discomfort of summer is gone but it’s still bright enough and warm enough to be outside. You may want a warm blanket at night as the sun sets earlier, but you know it’ll come out again the next day and warm you up.

There’s a feeling of peace that you don’t normally feel. Like a knowledge that you really are a part of this planet, this system that’s changing. You can imagine what it might have been like to truly live off the land, buzzing with excitement over all the bountiful crops being harvested. You can close your eyes and picture the landscape, forgetting all about the traffic jam in front of you or the massive to-do list waiting for you at work, even if just for a moment. I love this time of year.