Life As an Afterschool Special

or are the leaves especially brilliant this year?

Fifteen favorite things about fall:

*The cool night air. I love sleeping under lots of blankets with the windows wide open. I love that the stars and the moon and everything feels so crisp and bright.

* Football games. I enjoy the sound of the crowds and the thrill of the game and losing yourself in the action. I like how it divides people and unites people and brings out loyalty.

* Being able to wear almost any shoe in your closet. Seriously. Sandals, Running Shoes, High Heels, Boots… everything works in the fall. How can you not love that?

* Hot Apple Cider and Chai Lattes on cold days. I love the smell, the taste, the warmth.

* New school supplies. I know I am adult and the sight of trapper keepers and unused notebooks shouldn’t excite me, but I love the beginning of the school year, when everything is fresh is new and possibilities seem endless.

* Bonfires. I love the smell. I love the contrast of the cool night air and the warm fire. I love toasting marshmallows and singing and cuddling up.

* The changing colors. Looking around and seeing God in nature.

* Jeans. Dressy jeans, messy jeans, jeans with holes in the knees. I love jeans in the fall.

* Halloween. Dressing up and carving pumpkins and passing out candy and remembering your inner child.

* Dinner Parties. Nothing like a good bottle of wine and a good group of friends on a cool day

* Fresh Corn on the Cob. I even eat it raw sometimes.

* Fall TV. New seasons and new shows.

* Candles. Being able to burn candles everywhere, and light them earlier because it gets darker sooner

* The stillness of the lake. The grayness of the water

*Hockey