Fall Leaves

September 22nd is the first day of Autumn. Growing up in South Florida, we never truly got to experience the beauty and majesty of autumn. In the US, Autumn is referred to as Fall. No matter what you call it, its beautiful and I spent most of my life being deprived of it.

My first introduction to fall was when I went to Traverse City Michigan with my wife to visit her family. It was everything every poet ever wrote about it. It was October, and we drove along Centerline road on Mission Point. Looking out over the bay at all the colors filling my field of view was breath taking. I could not believe I had been missing this experience all my life.

In Florida you have two seasons, Summer and Hurricane. At 70 degrees people start wearing sweaters, and anything below 65 requires a coat. After the deluge of color, you have to wonder how it compares to 365 days of palm trees. From what I can see, it doesn’t compare. Fall is a season everyone should encounter.

After that experience I was hooked on fall. We even drove the Blue Ridge Parkway in fall two years ago. It was spectacular. We drove to the top of Mount Mitchel where there is a restaurant. Having lunch overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway was incredible.

Now I better understand when people use to tell me “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

They were right.