Autumn, or Fall, came to Michigan
last week. I know, I know, the calendar says it’s still summer, but here in my
part of the Midwest, it’s Fall already. It arrived the morning it was a chilly
45°. Of course, the temp zoomed up to 85 that afternoon so summer wasn’t gone.
That’s how Autumn begins. A night of cool temps followed by a pleasantly warm,
or even hot, day. Sure makes dressing kids for school a challenge, as Hubs and
I found out while taking care of the grandkiddies. The one who’d been used to
wearing sandals and shorts couldn’t understand why he had to wear long pants,
socks and a sweatshirt.
I’ve always loved this time of
year—and not just because my birthday is in the Fall. I love it when we can
finally turn off the air conditioning. And this has been such an unusually hot
summer that the AC has been on almost constantly. I’m not complaining, mind
you. I so appreciate climate control in my car and house. But throwing open the
windows and letting fresh air blow through a previously closed-up house makes
me appreciate this season even more. Sleeping with the windows open, huddling
under the covers toward morning, digging out my warm robe then wearing shorts
in the afternoon. Ah, yes. Fall is here.
The trees are beginning to signal
the change in season. It’s always startling to see that lone tree with red
leaves in the midst of green. In another month or so, we’ll be awash in a sea
of color—yellows, oranges, reds, crimsons. Our newspapers will be filled with “color”
reports and scenic routes. People will jump in the car for a leisurely drive along
back roads just to see the breath-taking colors. If we’re lucky. Weather
conditions have to be just right and we’ve had weird weather this year.
More than the wild variance of
temperatures and deciduous trees turning, a sure sign that Autumn has arrived
is the smell. Smoke from fireplaces that neighbors light to take off the chill.
That pungent odor as fallen leaves break apart. Burning leaves. Now there’s a
smell that has almost disappeared. With city ordinances banning leaf and brush
burning, a drive in the country is the only way to experience that smell. I’m sure
those with asthma or other respiratory ailments are most appreciative of the
bans, though. I’m also certain those who live near the wild fires that have
burned out of control this summer find that smell abhorrent. But for many of
us, those smells remind us of the Autumns of our youth.
As glorious as the Fall colors
are soon we’ll be raking those beautiful leaves to the curb or, as in our town,
putting them in yard waste bags for pick up. Since we removed our two big trees
because of insect damage, raking should be minimal, right? Alas, we are the
recipients of our neighbors’ generosity as their maples and ashes keep our yard
well-supplied, our rake and leaf blower active. When I think about fallen
leaves, sound comes to mind first. The flutter as they fall, that crunch when
walked on.
Harvest time is here. The three tomato
plants in Hubs’ garden have been producing like crazy and my kitchen smells
like an Italian restaurant as I cook down those tomatoes into sauce for
spaghetti and Grandma’s mosticiolli. My freezer already has enough sauce for
several meals. Soon, apples will be ready for picking then the cinnamon-y smells
of pies and applesauce will fill kitchens. Pumpkins will be ripe and more pies.
More delicious smells.
While most of my story Switched
takes place aboard a starship, a good part is on a Michigan farm in the Fall. The
smells, the sounds, the colors of Autumn are so familiar the descriptive
passages were easy to write.
I'm sure I sound like a “Pure
Michigan” commercial when I say my home state is beautiful year round—especially in
the Fall.
What do you think about this
season?
Don't forget to come back on
Thursday to meet another Michigan author, Jennifer Lowery.
