Is it autumn yet?

I can’t wait!

But it’s coming, I’m sure.

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year.  Three amazing holidays fall in autumn (oh, that was a good one!)…Halloween, Thanksgiving and My Birthday.  I’m so excited!

There are so many other reasons I love fall.

The aroma of evening fireplaces burning in the neighborhood.  Wearing sweatshirts and jeans. Shuffling through crisp, crunchy leaves on the ground.  Shopping for new school supplies (even though I don’t really need any more pens).  Saying the words ‘burnt umber’.  Wearing fluffy socks. Baking punkin’ pies.  Sipping apple cider.  Putting more blankets on the bed.

Here in Colorado, it’s a little early for most of that…today’s temp finally dipped below 95 degrees, the Front Range is still pretty green, and putting more blankets on the bed would be ridiculous.  But I know it’s coming.  I saw it in the leaves…

At what point do we acknowledge autumn’s arrival?

When is it each year that we relinquish the carefree days of summer?

When do we trade the universal perfume of freshly mown grass for the unmistakable scent of raked leaves?

Is there a specific moment when we no longer notice the smells of swimming pools and wet towels, but embrace the aroma of crackling fireplaces and baking pies?

Does autumn officially arrive only once we have donned our first sweatshirt, noted the earlier hour of twilight each day, or witnessed the first golden leaves of change on the trees?

Is there a specific moment in time when we are no longer aware of the rhythmic clacking of skateboards traveling past the house or admit to missing the hollow echos of nearby bouncing balls and the exuberant, joyful laugher of children?

Is autumn’s arrival evident only once we recognize a new quiet; a quiet hauntingly void of the sounds of chirping crickets and singing birds?

Do we hear autumn’s arrival in the thunderous sound of crowds cheering favored football teams to victory in the chill of the evening air?

Is this when autumn has truly arrived?

I believe autumn arrives the moment we notice.