Fall Has Arrived
Several weeks or even days ago we thought that summer would never end. The temperatures were warm, the sun was shining, and the outside air had the feel of fun and excitement. That feeling has passed, much quicker than anyone would have expected. Temperatures are dropping, days are starting to get noticeably shorter, and storms have arrived. This illustrates the point that fall has officially arrived.
A Quick Change
The days have been getting shorter, but it is not until recently that we have noticed. We have been distracted by the warm weather and the lack of rainfall. It has felt like mid-summer for months but quickly the climate has started to change. People have started to break out their fall colors and warm clothing and businesses are preparing for the fall season. Children are now situated with their schools and classrooms for the year and vacation time has ended. The feeling of responsibility has returned, and we are back to our normal routines. We are sad that summer is ending but we are also ready for our first normal fall and winter in years. There has not been talk about a pandemic and restrictions to accommodate for it in sometime and after years of asking we can say that fall of 2022 was a normal season.
Activities
Now that life has returned to a sense of normalcy, we can also return to doing some of our favorite fall time activities. Fall is prime season for apple picking and other fruit harvesting. Local farms will have festivals, activities, and seasonal programs to make the most of the season. Now is the time to drive out to farm country to go apple picking or to shop at a local farm stand for the freshest produce you will find all year. We should be making pies and pumpkin everything to get the flavors of the season. Additionally, fall is a wonderful time to go on an outdoor adventure. The cooler weather makes camping and fishing more enjoyable, and we get the joy of watching the world change from summer to fall. Trees will start to change colors and spending a few minutes to enjoy the simple pleasure of looking around your local park can be rewarding. Finally, fall is an exciting time of year for sprots. Football, soccer, volleyball, and many other major sports are in season. It is easy to find a league to play in or a game to go watch if you do enough research. There is plenty to do this time of year.
Responsibilities
The start of fall also brings a new set of community and family obligations. Halloween and Thanksgiving are both on the horizon and we must start to prepare now. For Halloween we need to start thinking out our costumes, if we want to decorate, and if we need to be prepared to give out candy for trick or treating. There are several rules based on where you live and your individual community that must be followed and now is the time to look them up. Are you allowed to decorate? When is trick or treating times? These rules must be observed to ensure that you have a stress-free Halloween. When thinking about Thanksgiving now is the time to think about if you are traveling or hosting and to start deciding. People who book last minute travel or hotel rooms will pay a premium, so it is important to start early. Talk to your family and friends and produce a plan so you can make whatever arrangements you need to ahead of time. It is not necessary to decide on a menu or a firm time yet. All you really need to know is where you are going, when you need to get there, and how long are you or any guests staying. Send out early emails and get a sense of what your holiday weekend will look like. Doing so will allow you to focus on details and specifics later and should make the holiday experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.
We all want summer to last forever. We want to have longer days; we want to be on summer vacation; we want to go to pools and beaches; and we want to forget about our normal responsibilities for a time. However, that time has ended, and we must accept this and prepare for the season to come. Fall is a wonderful time, and we need to enjoy the season as much as we loved the summer months. Make the most of it because cooler temperatures and, for some of us, snow will be here soon.