The month of September started on Monday, and suddenly our lives have switched gears into autumn mode as if an activation button had been pressed. Sure we had Labor Day, and I had my hamburgers, but come Tuesday the entire national mindset turned toward football season, the start of school, and pumpkin spice. It’s amazing how the timing is so perfect, and life itself has fallen into place as well.
School started for my neighborhood on Thursday, so parents only got a fraction of their lives back. Normally school would begin on Tuesday. Sure it’s a jolt back to reality, but it enabled the families to return to routines forgotten in the summer.
Football season also started on Thursday. The previous season champion Eagles won their first game. Most of the pro season hasn’t gotten started yet, and college football is just ramping up.
The trees, however, are starting to drop leaves, and a cool tang has entered the air that was not there since April. We experienced the side effects of a major hurricane, and thunderstorms are beginning to appear. The moon is preparing to show off its luster and hide behind eclipses. Corn stalks, pumpkins and chrysanthemums are filling the supermarket store fronts and the hardware store nurseries.
The pumpkin spice craze began a bit early in August, but fans are enjoying the variety of products laced with the tongue-tickling concoction. I indulged in a pumpkin muffin recently, enjoying its warm feeling on my tastebuds. I swapped my cold summer cereal for hot oatmeal, yet the days and nights still require air conditioning.
It’s a strange transition, yet it seems to be right on schedule. As we move from sandals to shoes and tank tops to longer sleeves, the calendar has been our perfect timekeeper, as evidenced by the timely change of the weather and our ability to adapt so quickly.
I guess it’s time for the hot cocoa, too. Excuse me while I check my pantry.