Every September, I spend much of the month trying to deny the onset of the most beautiful season of the year. Not because I dislike beauty or fall. But because after fall comes winter, with its short, winter days and long, dark nights. And it’s so hard to stay perky, positive, and awake with the shortage of light.
But for the past few days, I’ve experienced some unintentional denial therapy. It started yesterday when my brother, mom, and I made the 10 1/2 hour round trip to southwestern Minnesota for a funeral. It continued during this morning’s walk. On both occasions, the signs of fall were…well…undeniable. Finally, I had to admit fall is here.
In case you need some denial therapy, here are ten signs of fall guaranteed to bring you back to reality:
- We were attacked by soy beetles and those tiny, black no-see-um bugs at the cemetery yesterday.
- The robins were flocking around the pond during my morning walk.
- Walking under black walnut trees is dangerous these days.
- The farmers are busy harvesting corn and beans, from Iowa to Minnesota and back.
- Our local grocery store is carrying fresh, apple cider from Deal’s Orchard in Jefferson, Iowa.
- Leaves are falling on this gusty, windy day.
- The sumac on Minnesota hillsides is bright red already.
- The sky is already a clear, October blue.
- The sunset came at about 6:30 last night.
- River valley and creek beds glow with breathtaking color – greenish-gold, orange, and red – when the sun strikes the trees.
There’s no denying it.
Fall is here.
Absolutely here.
Gorgeously here.
Fleetingly here.
Irrevocably here.
So now that we’ve conquered the denial thing, can we skip straight to spring?
