For the last couple of days, I've been eying the trees on my street when I drive to and from home when I'm running errands and whatnot. Early last week they still looked the same as they have all summer, but lately I've been spotting a few golden tips here or there breaking through the monotony. Finally when I went out to get the mail this morning, it felt like the change of seasons was truly upon us. Not just because more leaves are turning golden, orange, red, and rust with each passing day, but today there was finally that autumn smell.
Strange as it may sound, that smell is one of the things I miss most about being down on campus. I miss walking outside to class this time of year, wearing jeans and a hoodie with my earbuds in, feeling a cool crisp breeze in my face that carries the smell of falling leaves, football games, marching bands, and adventures to come. Of course part of me loves the fact that if fall is finally here, that means winter and regular-season hockey is right around the corner too. But I'll take the preseason for now, that's enough for me. One of the reasons I love being in the midwest so much as that we get to actually see the seasons change gradually rather than just waking up one morning and BAM! blizzards or even worse, living someplace where the weather is just the same all year round.
It's a great smell and a fun time of the year. Is it completely crazy to say that lately, I actually like going to my classes, doing my homework, and just soaking in the season? They said on the news that yesterday's temperatures were 20 degrees above normal. Here's to hoping that the weather figures out we shouldn't be wearing shorts in late September. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go out on the porch and do more of my reading homework for today (in the comfort of an old Illini sweatshirt, of course).
Fall smells carry tremendous weight for me. The memories that flood back are some of my fondest.
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