Autumn

It is unbelievable; summer is over, where did it go? Today is the first day of autumn, my favorite season of the year. Kids have gone back to school, discussions of football are everywhere. Although on the calendar autumn marks the commencement of the end of the year, for me it has always felt like a beginning. That’s probably because of so many years of schooling, where autumn marks the beginning; a new beginning with new friends, new classes and new things to learn. I was always excited to go back to school. I suppose I have never gotten over this feeling of new beginnings despite it being more than 32 years since I finished school.

I love the cool crisp air that autumn brings. Although the days are typical enjoyably warm in the early autumn, the early morning and evening temperatures are invigorating. I had a nice dinner at a friend’s house last night. It was a lovely evening, fine discussion and good companionship. When I walked to my car after dinner around 8:30, it felt cool, crisp and wonderful.

I love an autumn Saturday morning, when you wake early and walk outside to pick up the newspaper. The night time sky has lightened a bit but is not quite dawn. The stars are still bright in the clear sky. The driveway is more than a little cool on your bare feet. You look around and the neighborhood is still quiet, most folks still asleep in their warm beds. This time of day for me is almost a spiritual time with its serenity, low light, and quiet calmness.

Autumn in Salt Lake City is hard to beat, with the Wasatch Mountains turning red, orange and yellow. The mountain side below Lone Peak is the view from my front yard. After all these years it can still take my breath away to look at it. The stags on the Hidden Valley Golf Course grounds now have their antlers and they look magnificent as they walk from fairway to fairway. A wonderful thing to do in the autumn when the leaves start to fall is to take a walk down First, Second or Third Avenue in Salt Lake City’s Avenue’s section. There are many wonderful old homes, tiny yards, eclectic neighbors and large beautiful trees. Yards are covered with a carpet of leaves of yellows and reds. As cars drive past, whirlwinds of leaves jump in the air.

Get outside, enjoy the autumn, smell the air, throw some leaves in the air.