On Seasons
(Thoughts on living in Flagstaff for 15 months)
Yesterday as I drove down Woodlands Village, I thought “oh that one tree by the DMV turned yellow really early last year. I wonder if it happens every year?” and then I turned the corner, and lo and behold, there was a beautiful yellow tree again.
It made me really happy because —
(a) after living somewhere with almost no seasonal change for 16 years, I LOVE that fall is so dramatic here.
(b) it makes me feel like an insider, having this local knowledge.
I know which streets to take as shortcuts during rush hour, which trees change their leaves first, and which streets get plowed last in winter. We have favorite restaurants and favorite parks, and we’re part of the ‘local’ network now.
This may not be true everywhere, because most towns of 70,000 don’t get 4-5 million tourists passing through every year. But circles overlap here: my boss goes to the same hairdresser I do, Eleanor’s friend from church is also in drama club at school with her, my coworker’s girlfriend works at my neighbor’s kids’ school. I love feeling like part of that local “web”, able to gripe about the tourists and the traffic together, but also enjoy the benefits of a town full of amazing restaurants, festivals, and scenery.
I love these seasonal rhythms and local connections so much! How about you? Is it fall where you live? What makes YOU feel like you belong?
Fall is definitely starting here in New Hampshire. I’ve moved so much as an adult, and even though I basically grew up in one place, I wasn’t born there (which was always something that came up- who was actually born in south Florida who lived there in the 1980’s?), so I’m used to not feeling like I belong and even though I like it here and we even bought a house, and we don’t plan on leaving, I really just can’t imagine ever feeling like I actually belong here, or anywhere. It’s fine because it’s just my normal. But I’m curious- why does Flagstaff get so many tourists?! We drove through there one February when we moved from Mississippi to California, and it was beautiful, but we really just stopped for the night (also, this was way before smartphones of any kind, so it’s not like the device in my hand was telling me where we were and everything about it).
I grew up in New England which has the seasons in force. I miss fall, especially the colors. In New Orleans, we don't get too much fall color. However, while Ian is wreaking havoc in Florida, he is sending beautiful fall like weather to us. And today is Mountain Day, which was a tradition at my college. On Mountain Day, the bells toll and classes are canceled to encourage students to enjoy the perfect fall day. You don't know in advance when Mountain Day will be because it's a matter of waiting for that just-right day. I miss it - yet I try to celebrate it in my heart (and will one day take a stand and take an impromptu day off). Alumnae will gather tonight at 6:37 to celebrate and enjoy ice cream wherever they are.