This is a little ditty that came to mind a week ago while I was thinking about what to write for this week’s website/blog posting. Hope you enjoy it, I did when I wrote it.

Word Count: 804

Sure Signs of

A Change in the Season

So, what events transpire in your life to mark a change in the seasons taking place? Guess it depends upon the particular individual and what their interests and hobbies happen to be. What would really be scary is if a person observes the change happening, but the laziness streak has them totally disregarding it. Sort of like an established Wall Street broker who continues to ignore the presence of the new guy at the water cooler. Even though there’s a distinct possibility that person was hired to replace the more established, and therefore highly fossilized old dude.

Now I tend to mark the passing of a particular season through a series of events that happen on a regular basis at that exact time each year. As an example, I can always tell when spring is in the air just by observing the days getting longer and warmer.

This has me changing into more appropriate clothing for the season, wearing less layers, and putting the winter coat in storage for the year. This being Silverton (and Colorado in general), the next day is followed by a low-pressure system appearing out of nowhere with winds comparable in speed to a gale force hurricane, snow/rain welcoming you back to November, and me seriously contemplating why I didn’t move to the South Pacific when I had the opportunity to.

Fall around here is an interesting time of year, specifically because it kind of sneaks up on a person. They don’t really notice the change happening until it’s almost biting them in the ass. For me, there are a few things that happen which give me a clear indication Fallis kicking in, and it isn’t taking a huge chunk out of my derriere without me noticing the alteration taking place.

The first of these changes actually happens in mid-August and strangely enough, it always takes place on a blue-sky day when the temperature is unusually warm. I’ll walk to the P.O., open my Box, and low and behold the first issue of the new winter season “Powder”magazine greets me. Just in time for me to leaf through it, start messing it up as I slobber all over the pages while I look at the images, and tell myself Fallis definitely in the air.

How is it possible for the people who are pictured in the magazine to ski down some of the mountains shown? Are these photos real? Do these winter wonderlands really exist? More importantly, will we get the type of moisture this coming winter that’s given all these people the opportunity to ski these unbelievable environments? Probably not so much, but one can always dream, right?

Then the deciduous trees around these parts get a distinct, but at the same time subdued tinge to them. Over the next month, the colors change to more of a yellow, or stunningly orange hue, and the bushes alter their appearance as well. Eventually every piece of flora that isn’t coniferous, completely loses all its leaves. Now if you haven’t noticed that Fallis here at that point, you’re either partially blind, or living in a fantasy world. Some people claim yours truly is that way, but they don’t have any videotape evidence to back up their accusations.

Other signs of seasonal changes begin to make themselves noticed. All of a sudden, lots of people disappear on Sunday afternoons since they’re glued to the television while watching their favorite professional football team compete. Speaking of sports, a few of us (including yours truly) actually take more than just a passing disinterest in Major League Baseball, with the play-offs and World Series on the docket. Indian Summertype days also find me coming up with all sorts of excuses to spend more and more time hiking outdoors, riding my bicycle, or just plain being away from the computer. Sometimes not as good for this writing obsession of mine, but basically a valiant attempt to spend more time outside. Before things get to the point where you’re stuck inside as the days grow progressively shorter, darker, and the weather crummier.

Here’s the main point I feel like one should consider when contemplating this whole change of seasons thing; whatever events or actions you undertake at the beginning, or during the course of a seasonal change, try to think of it as a sweet way to transition from one part of the year into another one. Makes for a total justification of your public display having to do with a person’s quirky and eccentric behavior.