Changes

Autumn is my favorite season. As a child I remember anticipating the new school season with trepidation, because of the uncertainty of meeting new teachers' expectations, harder assignments, and just plain learning to be more grown-up. I'm kinda hard on myself, in that things have to be, not perfect, but very, very good. However, as the days progressed, and became shorter, and cooler, and with the advent of the fall foliage, I loved waking up and meeting each day, head-on. I would inspect the trees on our property for the seasonal changes, loved going thru the stores checking whatever holiday stuff they were selling, bugging my mother to buy more decorations for the house, and visiting the farmers' markets, flea markets, and fall events that would occur in the neighborhood. As an adult I have not changed. Every year I look forward to the changing of the seasons. I absolutely love the holidays, heck, my kids are adults and I still decorate my home for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's and Easter! I always used to say I would do it for the kids, but it was really for the child in me! I still visit the farmers' markets, the flea markets, the apple/pumpkin picking farms, and ethnic festivals. But my all-time favorite holiday activity, besides holiday decorating, is Christmas shopping. Every year, starting in September, I start buying gifts. This gives me ample time to buy the gifts I am seeking at the best prices I can find. It never ceases to amaze me how people wait till the last minute to do their holiday shopping. My SO is one of them. His bad! I enjoy everything the seasons give us. Like birthdays, they each happen once a year. And I celebrate the fact that I can enjoy them. I am truly blessed!