Autumn

Stepping out, the brisk air nipped at my bare legs. It was 40 degrees but still warm enough for shorts in my book.The sky was a deep charcoal, brightened by the light of the moon. Taking a deep breath, I let the music run through my veins and took off. Fall was in the air and it made me a little sad. I am 100% a summer girl, but there is beauty in each season. As my body warmed up I thought about how often I catch myself existing in the day to day cycle, forgetting to look around and experience life. The simplest things are phenomenal, like the changing of the seasons. When I pause to notice God's brush strokes I am in awe of the true beauty.

Despite frigid temperatures and a blanket of snow last week, grass is still green, the hardiest of flowers bobbed in the breeze and leaves have just begun their descent. A mixture of stimuli teases my senses as my feet kiss the pavement. Although the thermometer says 40 degrees, it is different from a spring or summer 40 degrees. The breeze dancing around me, has a different feel, a different sound and a different bite. The wind tugs more purposefully at leaves still clinging to trees. Sounds are sharper and carry further. Rich spice permeates the air as wood smoke mixes with the mulch of fallen leaves.

The crunch of leaves matches the tempo of my music and I realize even sounds change from summer to autumn. Gone are the whoosh and rat-tat-tat of morning sprinklers, mid-day children's laughter and the drone of bees and insects; replaced by the buzz of chain saws, melodious drums from school bands, school bells and the cheers and shouts of football games.

The moon hung chubby in the sky and stars twinkled brighter in the crisp air. When the sun begins to rise and when it sets, the vibrancy and hue of the sunrise and sunset will be different. The horizon will be saturated with autumn orange and red overpowering the pinks and yellows of summer. Leading up to the frigid days of winter, the sun takes a shortcut through the sky, touching the Earth's surface with less brilliant, cooler rays of light. The bright yellow hue of our summer sun takes a step back to a softer, lighter lemonade color.

Marching swiftly behind the final traces of summer, through the cold mornings, warm days and chilly nights, are the soldiers of fall; schedules, new notebooks, crayons, pencils and textbooks, hot dogs, hamburgers, hot chocolate and football games, tailgating pumpkins and chocolate, superheroes, princesses, villains and the laughter-filled shout of trick or treat.

As the miles tick by my mind begins a new rhythm.


One last kiss as summer leaves
A sad good-bye to the green of trees
Golden hair turns back to brown
As autumn's hold sneaks through town

The crack of bats no longer heard
As bands and football take their turn
Bikinis, towels and sunscreen gone
Replaced by jeans and jackets warm

Fairies paint from green to red
And gently kiss the leaves to bed
Air is cold as fur turns white
The pool is quiet and the stars are bright

Pumpkins grin orange and bold
With crooked smiles and candle glow
Doorbells ring as monsters greet
Trick-or-treat chants fill the street

Days are short and nights are long
Flirty wind gets cold and strong
Now is time to erase the doubt
Welcome autumn, summers out