Seasonal Facts: Fall Has Arrived

Okay.

I cave.

I admit it.  There's absolutely no way that I can continue to deny it: fall is here.

Yes, the temperature has been teasing us all for weeks -- a dip down into the forties (F), a flare up into the sixties, and a sweep back down to the fifties.

Yes, I know... we did the Halloween dance, and watched the streets flood with children in costumes.

Yes, I know that we engaged in that tom-foolery of turning back the clocks this weekend, giving an extra hour of sleep on Sunday (who needs it on SUNDAY?  we need it on MONDAY --every Monday in fact).

But still.  It didn't really feel like fall.  I mean... .look at all the trees.  Some are turning pretty colors (There's one building on campus with a gorgeous wash of red in front... and then next one over has a wash of gold.  It's like they planned the color sweep).  But some are still green (and they're deciduous).

This morning, however, it all came clear.  There's no avoiding the truth now.

What happened?  Well, part of it is lingering from last night, when going out in my fallish jacket proved to be me inadequately dressed for the weather.  And DH actually fired up the seat warmers in his car.  That was a strong hint indeed....

But this morning.....

I was brushing my teeth, as as I often do, I looked out my bathroom window at the tree in my back yard.  While I watched, a leaf fell.
Then two.

Then about five in rapid succession.

Then more like ten.

Suddenly... the tree seemed to be letting go of its leaves, as though someone had cued the process in a play.  It was eerie!  I glanced around the yard.  No other trees showed so much as a leaf quiver.  There was no evidence of wind.  Just this tree, dropping its leaves in a rapid cascade. If I'd been wearing more than a towel, I'd have grabbed the camera to film it!

I felt like I was watching a comic strip!

I mean, seriously!  When I put the toothbrush in my mouth, there were a few thin spots on the top of the tree.  By the time I rinsed, two minutes later, there were only a few straggling leaves left at the top, and the middle and bottom were showing clear signs of thinning.  I'm guessing that by evening, the poor thing will be naked!

I guess that means it's really fall doesn't it?

Of course the temperature that is now actually below freezing might also be another clue.

Comments

[Cheryl]

That is tooo funny. I allways feel badly for the naked trees although admittedly this my favorite time of year! I am not sure what I would have done, not wanting to miss the show but wanting to document it...fall is here...oh BTW, we who work nights hate the fall back...guess who gets to see more patients in the hour that they just saw too many patients? Beautiful colors in the Mermaid btw...

[Carrie K]

We who work days love the hour back. Okay, me. And I really love that it's dark earlier so I can crawl into bed and not be blinded by the sun.

Fall? Fall? Fall is practically over.

[janna]

I think it means you have a magical toothbrush! ;-) And I also think that it's past Fall, and is almost Winter...

[Bev]

What a picture you painted! Loved it. The leaf, then 2, then 3! I could just see it! And you with your toothbrush clenched between your teeth, watching the denuding of the tree. How funny. I am so glad you found the KAL, cuz that made me find your blog!