Only the moon knows this is October. It hovers each evening just above the horizon like a hot air balloon, buxom and orange enough to send any Halloween’s heart into a flutter. Pumpkins, it whispers. Cinnamon. Soft leather boots. Hayrides. Irrational nostalgia over the word “harvest.”
But the sky disagrees, still summery blue and floating on breeze the temperature of bathwater.
The trees disagree, supple green yogis all, without a single thought of gold on their minds.
My wardrobe disagrees, t-shirts and flip flops still leading the colorful parade from my closet.
The mosquitoes disagree as they circle in haphazard armies, swooping in for juicy bites of my bare feet.
Even the calendar disagrees, losing track of itself each balmy afternoon and drifting sun-drunk and blithe into the next day.
And though I’m vaguely unsettled by the confusion of seasons, summer merrily usurping the kingdom of shivers and rain… well, I can’t exactly say I mind.
Lucky, lucky, lucky. Except for the mosquitoes. Our summer ended not even two weeks ago. I went to a picnic in shorts and a t-shirt, and by dusk I had on jeans, a sweatshirt and SOCKS. I have had to wear my WINTER jacket this week. Our bed now has two blankets over the sheet. And, tomorrow? Yes. They are predicting SNOW. I am, of course, taking my Brownie troop to an all day haunted camp tomorrow. So. Yes. I am going to FREEZE.
By the way….I love your post…. it is again, most excellent.
Bethany, honestly, I thank heavens every time I read your writing…it’s like you’re in my head but you actually manage to get the thoughts OUT there in the most beautiful language ever. I seem to have lost the talent. I’m glad you’ve got it going on.