Autumn Memories

Autumn is by far my favorite season, and here's why. I was born and have lived all my life in a city in central Florida, which pretty much has two seasons a year, spring and summer. This past winter was an exception to that, but it's pretty rare. Some of the leaves here do change color with the seasons, but they're still pretty dull. About the only real giveaway that Autumn has arrived is that it's less humid and the mosquitoes become less numerous. A few of the churches in this area have fall festivals, but they're pretty much just carnivals.

About 25 years ago my parents bought some land near Asheville, NC after we took a family vacation there to see some property that my sister and her husband owned in the area. Almost every year after that until very recently, we always went back in late October right around the time the leaves were changing. We would rent a cabin up in the mountains and over the years made many fond memories, from horseback riding and whitewater rafting to gem mining and craft fairs and fall festivals. Even though we went every year for several years, it never got old.

There's something magical about a small town autumn in the mountains. The brilliant yellow, orange and crimson leaves contrasted by the turquoise blue of the sky. The clean, crisp smell of the air mingled with the scent of damp earth and leaves. The bounty of the harvest and numerous handmade arts and crafts on display at the roadside markets and fall festivals. Sitting on the porch of a cabin in the mountains at night gazing up at the multitude of twinkling stars overhead, a cup of hot spiced cider in hand.

I seriously need to stop now before I get too nostalgic! What are your favorite memories relating to Autumn?