Fall has long been my favorite season. Partly because it starts with my birthday, quickly followed by Halloween, my mom’s birthday, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, my dad’s birthday…it’s just fun! But also because I love rain. I love the smell of the air right after it rains. I love watching rain drops paint designs in puddles. And I love the feeling of being wrapped up in sweaters and scarves. Fall clothing is comforting.
But I have discovered I do not have enough fall clothing. I have a few sweaters and a couple light jackets. These, covered by my light-weight, fuchsia raincoat have served me well in California fall. And, let’s face it, in California winter, too. But it is already as cold here as it gets in winter in the San Francisco Bay Area. The forecast calls for it to be literally freezing at least one night this week.
I wasn’t quite prepared for the purchasing of more fall clothing. I knew I needed a whole new wardrobe for winter and have been purchasing many winter things. I have gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, two jackets, wool sox, long underwear. But I was not prepared to need items for this transition time, when it is not yet cold enough for the intense winter coat I bought, but colder than I am used to in fall. I’m glad I love the feeling of being wrapped up in scarves and sweaters because it seems essential around here this time of year.
It’s funny how I can ignore transition times. Anyone who has worked with me or lived with me knows how good I am at new things. I love planning and dreaming and starting things. I even love the middle of things, when the plans are coming to fruition. I love being in the moment of an experience, being fully present as things unfold. But then I want the next new thing- to make new plans and have new dreams. The transition time, when things need to be put away and cleaned up and evaluated, is not my strength. I even have the ability (some may say shortcoming) to be blind to everything that needs to be put away from the project that has finished. I can walk by a pile of paper or a moving box for months without any compulsion to put it anywhere. Conversely, I wake up in the middle of the night in excitement for the new plans.
Perhaps this autumn weather has something to teach me. Not to jump too quickly to the new thing. Enjoy the moment. Buy a new sweater. Wrap up things I might otherwise ignore. Unpack the boxes. And I thought this lesson was over once I said goodbye to California and began my new life in Minnesota. Silly me, thinking I could move on too quickly from this lesson I need so much to learn.
But I have discovered I do not have enough fall clothing. I have a few sweaters and a couple light jackets. These, covered by my light-weight, fuchsia raincoat have served me well in California fall. And, let’s face it, in California winter, too. But it is already as cold here as it gets in winter in the San Francisco Bay Area. The forecast calls for it to be literally freezing at least one night this week.
I wasn’t quite prepared for the purchasing of more fall clothing. I knew I needed a whole new wardrobe for winter and have been purchasing many winter things. I have gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, two jackets, wool sox, long underwear. But I was not prepared to need items for this transition time, when it is not yet cold enough for the intense winter coat I bought, but colder than I am used to in fall. I’m glad I love the feeling of being wrapped up in scarves and sweaters because it seems essential around here this time of year.
It’s funny how I can ignore transition times. Anyone who has worked with me or lived with me knows how good I am at new things. I love planning and dreaming and starting things. I even love the middle of things, when the plans are coming to fruition. I love being in the moment of an experience, being fully present as things unfold. But then I want the next new thing- to make new plans and have new dreams. The transition time, when things need to be put away and cleaned up and evaluated, is not my strength. I even have the ability (some may say shortcoming) to be blind to everything that needs to be put away from the project that has finished. I can walk by a pile of paper or a moving box for months without any compulsion to put it anywhere. Conversely, I wake up in the middle of the night in excitement for the new plans.
Perhaps this autumn weather has something to teach me. Not to jump too quickly to the new thing. Enjoy the moment. Buy a new sweater. Wrap up things I might otherwise ignore. Unpack the boxes. And I thought this lesson was over once I said goodbye to California and began my new life in Minnesota. Silly me, thinking I could move on too quickly from this lesson I need so much to learn.