Crisp

I love cold weather. Not cold like January cold, but that crisp autumn cold. I love the smell of cold air. I know it doesn't really have a smell per say, but I always am reminded of apple picking, camping, Thanksgiving, bonfires, hot chocolate, long sleeves, fall leaves.

As a kid, fall meant soccer games at Nyack College. I remember sitting on the wall wrapped in blankets cheering on the men's soccer team. I still remember John Corby because he always got a red card due to his outbursts of temper. I remember walking along under the wall and having the college students shout, "hey, Dr. Heiser's kids!" We also always went apple picking with the college kids or some of the other professors and their families. I remember how every time the red wagon would tip over and dump Matt or Susie and all our apples onto the ground. We always played in the hay and climbed all over the old tractor at the apple orchard. I remember being afraid of the big cow that they had there and how I eventually screwed up the courage to pet it or feed it grain. Those were such great times.

Now fall involves new things: football games, frisbee tournaments, long sleeve shirts, raking huge piles of leaves only to scatter them by jumping into the piles, bonfires at Thanksgiving. I always love the start of a new school year. I get to see my friends again and of course, buy school supplies. I love new pencils, notebooks, erasers, post-its, highlighters. My birthday is in the fall too, so that is another plus for the season. It may get cold later in SC than it does in NY, but the colors are just as spectacular - with trees of brilliant red, orange, and yellow. I love walking along the sidewalks crunching the fallen leaves and acorns.

The memories I have of the autumns of my life have changed with time. I know that they will continue to be shaped by my current stage of life and that is such an exciting prospect. However, that first breath of cold, crisp air, no matter where I am or what I am doing, always brings me back to soccer games and apple picking. Someday, I hope to build similar memories with my own family.