Fall's Coming . . .

It's true. After a brilliant summer the signs are everywhere that fall is coming our way. The ancient Roman's revered those who could read the signs in the enviroment - they'd observe and make pronouncements about what was coming.

Today, since I had the day off of work I was obsessing a titch over these signs . . .

1. Back to school sales are taking place in every store. Parents are racing about buying kids supplies they likely will lose in the first week of class.
2. Monarch butterflies are heading south. Heck, even the Canada Geese are starting their migration.
3. The tomato plants have stopped blooming.
4. The nights are getting cooler.
5. A month ago we were sitting out and reading at 9:30 PM. Now it is dark at 8:30.
6. Local families of Italian descent are filling jars with tomatoes and tomato sauce. Our favourite grocery store is selling those HUGE propane burners so that temporary tomato canning facilities may be set up on people's front driveways.
7. Pots of mums, ornamental kale, and corn stalks are arriving at nurseries.
8. The leaves of some trees have started to turn colour already.
9. Squirrels are racing about storing nuts for the winter.
10. I am starting to crave soups, stews, and casseroles.
11. I am almost sick of toasted tomato sandwiches.
12. Today in the store I noticed that those horrid pre-made disks of dough that Pillsbury calls 'cookies' have arrived in therefrigerator section - the seasonal school bus. 'Back to School' has arrived.
13. There is less cat fur laying about when I vacuum - their winter coats are coming in.
14. People aren't dressing as skimpily as they were. Happily those graphic tats are soon to be covered for another year.
15. Halloween candy has arrived.
16. Costco is selling Christmas wrap, ribbon, and tacky decorations.
17. Elderly folks are starting to make their annual trek south.
18. The Hurricane watch has begun.
19. Sports folks are bleating on about hockey. Will Crosby return or not. The rest of us cover our ears.
20. Cars, laden with boxes, mattresses, and cast off furniture have been spotted along the highways as they take university students to campus.

See. It is official. Fall is on its way.

Apparently I should have lived back in Roman times where my talents in reading signs would no doubt provide me with elevated status.

I don't hate the fall - in fact Iprefer the cooler days to the hot, stifling heat of the summer. For years fall has meant an end to the joyous freedom the summer - those long days where I was able to do what I wanted, when I wanted. It takes a long time for that to ease out of your system.

Fall also means that winter is that much closer.

SIGH

Comments

[YTSL]

I am so looking forward to fall as summer in Hong Kong is way too hot and humid for most people's comfort. In a few weeks' time, we'll celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. But, in all honesty, it still feels very much like summer rather than fall/autumn here!

[bellini]

Yes very talented indeed Jerry:D But I don't want to rule out summer just yet even if fall is my favourite season.

[JDeQ]

I can imagine how humid Hong Kong must be. That would NOT be good for me.

I'm gonna fight the passage of summer this year bellini - it's been far too nice to let go.