Fall-In

Here we all are, surrounded by fallen leaves and that cold, brisk, natural smell. Everyone is making plans to go to the pumpkin patch, whether it is with their friends or their families. They are stocking up on all the apple cider and fresh donuts they can get, or maybe they are taking it all in as the moment stretches on, one donut, one cup at a time, giving themselves something to look forward to for next Autumn.

Here we all are, slowly walking through the pumpkin patch, looking for the best one. The smallest one. The biggest one. The widest one. The weirdest one. Anything that appeals to our eyes, really. Anything that will go perfectly with what we plan to carve the pumpkin into. It is all so extraordinary too, whether it is cold or it is slightly warm, it does not matter. All that matters is that we are surrounded by people we love, and that love alone warms our hearts. That alone puts smiles and laughter on our faces, and puts a glow into our eyes reminding us of how grateful we all are of the wonderful things fall brings to us.

We spend our nights, our mornings, our evenings, or whatever time that seems to be perfect, carving our pumpkins. This time always seems to be the best time—the mess, the difficulty, the stress, the laughter, the smiles, the ease, the patience—it all goes together to form the best carved pumpkin ever (or sometimes the worst). It never seems to matter in the end though. The moment the sun sets and the stars come out, and the pumpkin illuminates, emitting a glow that traces the perfectness of the creation, is all so extraordinary.

Here we all are, going to football games. Not having a care in the world whether it is freezing cold or warm out. Okay, maybe we care a little bit, or a lot. But we will go anyway; we will sit or we will stand, and we will shout, we will yell, we will scream, anything to cheer on our team.

The thing about fall is that it is the most eventful, beautiful, dreadful, colorful time of the year. The chilly nights, foggy mornings, and rainy days. The pumpkins, football, leggings, sweatshirts, sweaters, scarfs, the spookiness that Halloween brings, and the bonfires surrounded by friends gives us a glow of contentment before we must resign to the dreadfulness of winter.

It is a beautiful thought really: everything is dying, yet it is still so beautiful.

"[F]all: bright flame before winter's deadness; harvest; orange, gold, amber; cool nights and the smell of fire. Our tree-lined streets are set ablaze, our kitchens filled with the smells of nostalgia: apples bubbling into sauce, roasting squash, cinnamon, nutmeg, cider, warmth itself. The leaves as they spark into wild color just before they die are the world's oldest performance art, and everything we see is celebrating one last violently hued hurrah before the black and white silence of winter." - Shauna Niequist, Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way

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What are your thoughts and feelings about fall?

Do you like the cold air and the fire-opal trees?

Do you like the bugs disappearing? Or do you hate fall?

Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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The English Society