Fighting Autumn Prejudice

Here's a mystery for you: why are so many people unhappy with cool weather?

I have no tolerance for the heat. It makes me cranky, sweaty, lethargic--it even gives me headaches. I am less myself in the summer; I am dormant, waiting for fall.

As far as I'm concerned, today was the first nice day in months: cold, crisp, beautiful layers of gray and white clouds as lovely as a Van Gogh. 50 degrees and breezy: sweatshirt and football weather. Comfort food weather. Snuggling weather. What's not to like?

And yet every weather person is bemoaning the loss of the heat, the loss of summer, as if some precious gift had been taken. They face the camera with sad smiles and say, "It was nice while it lasted." Are they CRAZY? This is the first day I was able to teach my class without that horrible droplet of sweat that runs down my spine during every lecture. I had energy! I was vibrant! I have come out of hibernation. A teacher from across the hall came over and asked what had gotten into me today.

"I just like my subject matter," I said truthfully. But it was probably fall, too, and the wonderful cold that made me so energetic.

Tonight I went to an evening graduate class and all of my classmates were frowning and saying things like "It was eighty on Sunday! What happened to the heat?" They all grumbled together, bonding over their love of summer.

Guess what, I wanted to tell them--it's October! It's supposed to be cold! Tis the season!

Why, oh why, do people dislike this wonderful, crisp, refreshing, invigorating weather?

That's a real mystery to me.

The Power of Wind and Music

I started my newest grad school class this evening. I had been harried and hot getting ready, and the class was interesting but tiring.

Imagine my joy when I emerged into the parking lot and found that the air was cold, autumnal, rejuvenating. And then, like a gift from the gods, the song playing on my radio as I turned toward home was--perhaps the best song in the world--LAY DOWN SALLY by Eric Clapton. I can't even explain how the cold wind blowing in my window and the power of Clapton's guitar (and his terrific background vocalist, whoever she is) simply re-energized me, made me feel younger, gave me the proverbial new lease on life.

Then I came home and my house was sweltering, despite three fans spinning madly. Ah, well--I'd had a moment.

What's the music that saves your mood?