Every time I hear the song “See You in September”, I am reminded of how grateful I’d been while growing up for summer vacations and a bit sad about leaving friends at the end of the school year. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the summer, and it too, elicits nostalgia and enthusiasm. There’s a bit of sadness as summer vacation comes to an end, but enthusiasm for the next season as it ushers in opportunities to learn, to grow, and to meet up with or make new friends. Even as an adult and a retired teacher with years spent in classrooms, I still feel the nostalgic pull of this time of year.

Autumn is my favorite season for many reasons. The promise of cooler weather, nature’s colorful palette of orange, gold, maroon, and crimson leaves, roadside farm stands like Marshall’s Farm Market off Rt. 46, East in Delaware, New Jersey offering  hot mulled cider and cider doughnuts along with a variety of jams, honey, fresh vegetables and fruits, a pick-your-own pumpkins and apples, Halloween, Thanksgiving along with my birthday make autumn special.

In addition, with a crisp chill in the air, I feel more inclined to stay active, write more stories, brush up on my skills at watercolor painting or  Zumba, and enjoy walking amid the dappled splendor of the tall oak, spruce, and birch trees in the surrounding parks. There is a lot to see in September and October and November! So, enjoy the season!