Looking at the calendar, it says it's officially autumn. Though looking out the window, the day doesn't look much different than the day before. Coming in, going out - one season looks much like another, here in California. The seasons drift slowly here, one melding into another. Yet as those milestone dates come into view, I think I can still feel a hint of some greater mystery - like stepping through a doorway, a portal, as we go from one season to the next.
The changes are subtle. A drifting of a few brown leaves in the wind. One hundred and one degrees, rather than one hundred and four. Maybe the nineties by the weekend. Everyone else's idea of summer weather - that's cool, we think. By the time late October rolls around, and it makes it down to the seventies, maybe even sixties ? well, at night, at least - we'll be shivering, hunting for our sweaters.
Still, it's autumn. We'll take it. Time for a change, even if the change is barely perceived.
As the seasons change, it tempts me to look back, as well as forward. Nostalgia. Only humans do that, I think. Does the butterfly ever long for those bygone caterpillar days? Do the wild geese look back over their shoulder for one last gander of the north country, as they take wing? Do the salmon regret leaving the sea? But then, what do I know - maybe they do have regrets. Maybe that's why they swim back home, upstream...
(yes, I know they're not salmon - but they don't have salmon at the plant nursery, only koi. I think the only salmon in Southern California are the ones in restaurants...sometimes you just gotta go with whoever shows up at the casting call...)
~sigh~
Even here, where Autumn still wears her summer clothes and flipflops, she brings her melancholy baby with her...Is it only to my house, or does she take him with her wherever she goes? Here, just like over there, Autumn dresses a lot like her sister Summer - I can hardly tell them apart, were it not for that handful of crumbly brown leaves at her feet and the hint of wistful nostalgia in the air -- still I'm glad to see her. Might as well sweep the leaves off the porch and invite her in for a cup of tea.
Hmm, it's still pretty warm. Better make that iced tea...
Totally understand what you mean by stepping through a portal into a new season. The light is different and there is a subtle feeling in the air.
Happy Autumn!
Posted by: gemma | September 23, 2009 at 07:24 AM
I can certainly relate! You put it so well,though. AS you said ..I ca nfeel some unseen thing that tells me it is fall even tho it is 100 degrees
Posted by: pam aries | September 23, 2009 at 03:52 PM
I wouldn't mind some Californian weather here.
Actually, what am I saying? I'm English - I mind whatever the weather is.
Posted by: Pacian | September 25, 2009 at 02:24 PM
in places like that, where the changes are so subtle that if you blink then you miss them.. I think that people are more intune with the changes because they have to concentrate to see change... well done for finding little changes!
Posted by: miss*R | September 27, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Dear Tink,
You have a good attitude. MANY people wish they could trade where they live and come join you!
For awhile we lived in southern ca. It freaked me out that it was so pristine blue around Christmas time. ;-) Seeing Santa fly through the eighty five degree sky was a little much.
So you know, it's still hotsy~totsy here too, but it WILL get cold in NOV.
Hugs from Tx,
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | September 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM
It's feeling a lot like fall here...cool, colors just beginning to dress the trees in oranges and reds and rusts.
sometimes I complain...I know, but I do appreciate the change in season.
x..x
Posted by: Stephanie | September 30, 2009 at 07:01 AM