Thursday, September 11, 2008

rain, rain, go away...

I just remembered the old Garbage song (circa 1995), "I'm only happy when it rains..."


I'm so not happy when it rains. Unless I have nowhere to be except curled up on my couch in sweatpants, a hoody, and with good movies and ice cream and popcorn.


And I'm so not a fan of the end of summer. (I'm also so sounding like a valley girl today with the way I'm writing...) I go through this, write about this, every year when the seasons change, but I cannot say it enough. Summer is just too short. It doesn't mean I don't enjoy fall and the wonderful things that autumn brings. But when Autumn slides in without giving Summer a fair goodbye, I'm not extremely happy about it. Last week, Lindsey and I made a list of the 10 (which became 12) things that are good about fall to remember on days when I miss summer. It's hanging in my office on a pink Post-it, which makes it official. Here is our list:
  • Chili (preferably my dad's recipe) and homemade soups
  • Scarves
  • Hoodies
  • Hot apple cider and caramel apples
  • Bonfires (even though I never really go to any...)
  • Pumpkin flavored things...(pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie blizzards, my mom's pumpkin bars, pumpkin spice lattes & frappuccinos, etc.)
  • Good candle smells (particularly Autumn Walk by Gold Canyon...)
  • It's almost time for Christmas music
  • End of summer sales
  • Non-frizzy hair
  • Colored leaves
  • Sheri's good food (which is year-round, really...)

These things get me through the fall, but they certainly don't get me through the long winters of central Illinois. I might enjoy fall much more if it led to something better, but I always know what's coming next...dreadful cold. I think some year I'll fly south with the birds.

I'm trying to learn to enjoy this season, but with the rain today it's hard to. Technically (and ironically?) the last day of summer is on my birthday (the 21st...hint, hint), but it feels a whole lot like fall right now. I can smell it in the air...it's earthy and the breezes are crisp and less humid. It's cooler, darker, and the evening sunsets paint the sky with warmer shades of gold and pink and purple and blue. Right now, those sunsets are my hope for autumn.

I hope the rain will stop and the sun will rise, shine, and set...reminding me again that there really is beauty in the fall.

What do you like about fall? I need some more reminders!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know what is funny? Its raining here this morning too and I was just thinking to myself "this would be fine if I could sleep in and spend the day in my pjs watching sappy old movies"

I so commiserate with you!

Anonymous said...

Hey Mandy,

I am a friend of Tara's and hence found your blog thru hers.
I had to comment on this post because the song "I am only happy when it rains" was my favorite song for a long time. I still remember my father finding the pink garbage CD in my car & asking "why would a group name themselves this & why are you buying it-he he?"

Also, I am from IN, but moved to Gainesville FL for my husband's residency. Tara has already visited once, but I would love to have her again so talk her into coming during the cold & have her bring you with her :).

Have a great week.

Love,
Jenny Gutwein
http://web.mac.com/lgutwein

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I found you through Kate's blog! I live in Iowa and feel the same way about summer coming to a end. You did encourage me by thinking about the positives of Fall. Thanks!