Fall in the Fall

Fall is a controlled collapse. At least it is in the cooler climates. You might not notice it if you live where it's hot. Things decay. It's beautiful, and it's also sad, in some odd way.

Fall is the best time of the year. It wins my nomination, at least. Summer's over, one might need a coat. At night, the moon seems brighter - is everything brighter? People cut down more trees. It's a given. Chainsaws scream, too early. You don't like to hear that. Just rake leaves, leave your chainsaw in the garage. Or at home.

Everyone wants to eat more. Aren't you hungry? I am. There's a frantic rush to get fatter. If I were a bird of prey, I'd sell pre-killed rodents at a stand.

Leaves fall, and lakes look different. The lakes look brighter. They gleam in a way they don't in the summer. The sun reflects off of the water in a more sparkly way. For me, it's a happy time. My cats seem friskier. I remember how dogs run around more in the fall; as if they know about some surprise that we don't. The leaves are falling, and the smell of decay is slightly present. Jet planes seem louder in the sky. They really do.

The outdoor pool has closed. It's basically too cold to water ski. I mean, you could, but don't. The water is 59 degrees or less. In the fall, schoolkids like the recess more, and shout and scream. Halloween looms. You can still ride a bike, but you need gloves. And a hat, probably. And put some more air in the tires, because the air is colder and the pressure drops in them.

Gum is harder to chew, at first. Coffee seems more welcome. I welcome coffee. Bike riding is more fun, but you'll soon need gloves. Up at the lake, some people hunt, some do not. I don't hunt, but a lot of people like to. Birds, deer, raccoon, weasel; everything gets shot. We got plenty of 'em, so, I say shoot 'em if you got 'em. Someone should tell the deer. Bear are not really afraid but they should be. Well, actually, bear are quite afraid. But nobody believes that.

One has to fix up the car, and the house, to make sure things will work when it gets cold and windy. Doors, hinges, engines, brakes, and things like that. You don't want to do that in January. Do it now. And leave a pair of gloves in your "glove compartment." A lot of people forget (or don't know) that a glove compartment is designed for that. Put some gloves in there, I say. You may thank me later.

I go fishing in the fall, sometimes. Fishing should be great about now - the fish seem to bite as the water cools. In the lakes, at least.

Do you like geese? One of the most clear signs of fall are the lines of geese flying southward. There they go! Once in a while, you see a goose heading back the other way. He forgot something, I guess.

Things are in decay. Trees, plants, grass, animals. Things die. But the wind doesn't die. The wind is just getting ready. Wind is gearing up. Wind has a lot to do! Stuff to do. Blow leaves, blow snow, blow....everything. Few things are more certain than the fall wind. I love the wind in the fall. It's like an old friend, coming back for a long visit....

Usually by October, the wind whispers a clear but quiet warning. "Remember this? Remember me?" That can be scary. But you can't argue with it. It's non-negotiable.

Who knows how rough the winter will be? No one really knows. You have to wait. A threat. But the birds still fly, and the squirrels fidget. And everybody eats more. And more. Think about what you might like for Christmas. Someone may ask you soon.

Boating has come and gone, as will voting. Now, some people think about ice fishing. Ice fishing is really different than regular fishing. But it's not time for that yet. Some people still mow their grass. They can't break the habit. Will they ever stop? We wait for some rain, and for Thanksgiving. I like fall, and I approve of it. Do you?