I find this time of year a little disconcerting. I never quite know whether to embrace it, or run like crazy and hide. Here are some random thoughts about the season of zombies, dead leaves, and soup.
Fall has arrived here on the wet west coast, although with a whimper rather than a roar. The sun has been shining for the last week, mostly, but the temperature is beginning to drop in a foreboding sort of way. On the upside, it’s time to dig out those warm winter clothes. I have a new wax jacket that I am looking forward to putting through its paces the next time we have freezing rain and I have to take the dog for a walk.
For many people, this is an exciting time of year – Halloween is approaching and Christmas paraphernalia is flooding into the stores. I appear to be one of the few people who don’t like Halloween. With violence, blood and gore being a staple of every news broadcast, I simply can’t warm to zombie walks or be happy greeting blood-soaked children, or heaven forbid clowns asking for candy at my door. What’s with this fascination for evil? There’s enough of the real variety around, we don’t need a special night to celebrate it. On the other hand, my wife and I do like the cute little ones dressed as princesses and superheroes, but these seem to be increasingly rare.
And then there’s Christmas – a celebration to the God of Mammon. You think I’m exaggerating? Last year Canadians spent approximately $1 billion on December 23rd alone! Heck according to Statistics Canada we spend around $300 million on sparkling wine alone every December. Although that’s something I can support. There are lots of predictions about how much we’ll spend individually this year, but it looks like it will be north of $800 per person. This at a time when we Canadians owe $1.67 for every dollar of disposable income we have. Okay, I don’t want to dis Christmas, I love the night before and the actual day with family, but I could live without the 10-week lead up – honestly!
Lest you think I hate Fall and the shadow of Gory Night and more turkey, there are lots I do appreciate. It’s a great time to make soup – one of my favourite things to do. That and fresh, homemade bread. Long walks on crisp days, hunkering down in front of a glowing fire, and family celebrations are also on my fall schedule.
It’s also a good time to start new projects. Something to see the year out on a high note. I’m hoping to start two new book projects over the next week or so and see them published early in the new year. Now there’s a real scary thought – 2018 is almost upon us.
Autumn as we call Fall on this side of the pond, is my favourite season. I love the colours, rich russets, reds and ambers, yellows through to gold. The glorious sensual scents of woodsmoke and bonfires. Waking early in the morning to see Jack Frost has visited and silvered all around. The sun rising in a clear blue sky and my breath mini white candy floss puffs.
I agree with you Micheal, hearty soups and warming stews, winter woolies and cosy scarfs, boots retrieved from hibernation all welcomed at the start of this favoured season.
It’s a season for me of exciting anticipation. Bonfire night ! Guy Fawkes, leaping orange flames, cheesy potatoes and sticky gingerbread, fireworks that whizz and bang and compete to out sparkle the stars. Christmas on the horizon, yippee ! No bah humbug from me.
A season I embrace, I love and do my very best to enjoy.
Very poetic Kym – nicely said!
I agree with this article in so many ways. My distaste for the gore of Halloween – you’re right. Enough of that in real life. And Christmas, I love the season but am mindful every year to pare down more and more of the spending and the rush and insanity and focus on what’s really important. For me, a spiritual connection, quality time it’s family and friends, and an increased awareness of how I can contribute positively to people who have less than I do (although truthfully, I want that to happen all year long). That said, fall has been my favorite season since I was in grade school. That stack of fresh clean notebooks, sharpened pencils, new erasers, and the untapped potential of a new year. For some reason fall signals new beginnings for me, even more than New Years. There’s a sense of “what’s next” in the air as we gear down from the warmth of summer to the chill of a new season – whether it’s school or work. And of course, there’s turkey …….
Good thoughts Ingrid. Glad you agree about the gore, it seems in light of the state of the world rather uncaring and thoughtless to real victims.