Take a walk along a country road this time of year and the sweet, musky fragrance of scuppernongs is hard to ignore. They’re less showy than the leaves that are beginning to change color, dappling the countryside. The ripening of these wild grapes provides a more subtle sign of fall.
When I was a little girl I searched for any hint of autumn. And at the first forecast of cool weather, I’d run upstairs and dig out raggy jeans and a flannel shirt, itching for my favorite season of the year to show up.
Over the years, I’ve never lost that feeling of anticipation as I look ahead to the prospect of fall. In the heat of July and August, I contemplate the crisp air of autumn. And I make it through those torrid summer days telling myself: “Soon it will be October.” While I’m daydreaming, I conjure up the pleasant things, but as with each season, I’ve noticed there’s good and bad. Here’s my list.
GOOD THINGS ABOUT FALL: The first fireplace fire of the year.
BAD THINGS ABOUT FALL: Cleaning out the fireplace before the first fire.
GOOD: Wearing sweaters and jackets.
BAD: Not knowing what to put on in the morning.
GOOD: Auburn winning Saturday afternoon football games.
BAD: Auburn losing Saturday afternoon football games.
GOOD: Leaves turning scarlet, orange, rust and yellow.
BAD: Outdoor plants turning brown after the first frost.
GOOD: Children jumping in piles of leaves.
BAD: Leaves falling faster than the rake can gather them.
GOOD: Lying in bed with the covers pulled up to your neck.
BAD: Getting out of bed and stepping into the shower.
GOOD: Camping and hiking in the woods, roasting marshmallows over an open fire.
BAD: Spending a restless night on the cold ground in a sleeping bag that was guaranteed to keep you warm.
GOOD: Turning off the air-conditioner.
BAD: Turning on the heat.
GOOD: Looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
BAD: Worrying about the ten pounds you’ll gain during the holidays.
GOOD: Young munchkins trick-or-treating as angels, cowboys and astronauts, waiting with chubby outstretched fingers for a peanut butter cup.
BAD: Adolescents trick-or-treating in army camouflage uniforms, greedily grabbing handfuls of peanut butter cups.
GOOD: Sipping steaming mugs of spiced tea or hot chocolate to warm your innards.
BAD: Burning your tongue sipping steaming mugs of spiced tea or hot chocolate.
And so it goes. The way you see and recall each season has a lot to do with the way you look at life. As for me I don’t care if the glass is half full or half empty as long as I can drink what’s in it.
Mary Belk lives in Auburn and writes a column for the Opelika-Auburn News.
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