There is something in the air. That tingling bit of anticipation that I smell. The familiar deep breath first thing in the morning that has just a hint of something special. The question of what will be interesting today? That grounding feeling that ushers me into the new day.
This singular moment of peace before my morning stretch and internal debate about what project to tackle takes over. My mental gymnastics are often followed by a piercing shriek, letting me know that my almost one-year-old has also chosen this exact moment to awaken.
The rest of my day follows in chaos. I stumble outside, one arm full of gear and the other full of baby, only half remembering that my keys are still swinging in the door behind me. My morning routine is down to perfection, running exactly eight minutes behind, give or take a half hour. We are always late. All hopes of accomplishing a plethora of tasks vanish as the car seat screams turn into peaceful car ride dreams.
Amongst all of this beautiful disaster, I find myself losing track of many things: matching socks, the superior pacifier, and, of course, what month and day it is. This being the case, I often have to be reminded what to expect by exterior clues. For example, the sun is shining, so the weather must be warm today! I spend a decent amount of time outside, so knowing what to expect from the weather can be imperative to my comfort for the day.
So imagine the surprise I find myself in when I walk into one of my favorite stores at the end of a scorching day and find myself surrounded by hues of orange, tasteful creamers, and banners of the beloved Ticonderoga #2. I found myself immediately conflicted. Here I was, dripping sweat, in what can only be described as my “I need to do laundry yesterday” outfit, and this store had dared to proclaim that it was now time to celebrate Fall. The betrayal was almost Bachelorette-esq.
I find comfort in Oregon’s dependability of seasons. As a state that experiences a different type of weather every quarter, the sudden onslaught of pumpkin flavoring felt as if I had been stabbed. There was a battle raging inside of me.
On one hand, back-to-school season has always been my bread and butter. The smell of new paper and the hug-like feeling of a cozy sweater still brings a smile to my face. On the other hand, this year particularly, I feel like I have been caught unaware. It is far too hot to be excited about the season’s change. I have never been one to cling to the last rays of summertime, but how could I have missed all of the signs? Even if I was mentally prepared for the onset of all things spooky, it feels just a little bit unnatural, almost forced. Autumn has come too early for me.
I left the store unsettled. This year, in particular, I find myself unsure of what exactly to celebrate with the season’s change. There is no jumping for joy as the leaves crisp and nights start to creep in earlier. Nor is there any extensive plan to spend the optimal amount of time enjoying the sunshine and warm days next to the pool.
Do I celebrate the ripening of my garden or the new doors finally getting finished? Do I start preparing for what can only be the upcoming invasion of winter?
All of these questions raced through my head as I drove home. They continued to plague me as I watered my freshly finished yard. At that moment, a cartoon depiction of me would include a particularly dark cloud floating above my head. Then, I took a deep breath.
The same kind of breath that I started my day with. I felt the peace blanket my shoulders as the tension was released. There, directly in my line of vision, was a blooming viola. A flower that I did not plant there, hardy as can be. Pure white, plain, and simple. I was too inspired by its presence to pull it out (it did not belong there after all). In the gardening world, these violas and pansies are the first plants we recommend for the transition to fall, as they will last all winter long.
Then, entering my house, I caught a glimpse of a spider web forming in the top corner of my hanging basket bracket—quintessential signs of the changing season.
A shifting breeze blew, cooling the entire area immediately. At that moment, I knew Fall was undoubtedly on its way. While it may feel like I am in the trenches of summer, running impossibly late, facing the stores that have decorations out much too early, cooler weather is, without a doubt, coming, and it will arrive right on time.
