I’m always amazed how quickly things change when the official first day of fall arrives. The equinox (the date when day and night are of equal length) only happens twice a year, spring and fall. Here in the northern hemisphere, the spring equinox signals we’re 
heading toward the long days of summer, culminating in Midsummer, or the summer solstice. The fall equinox means the shorter days and longer nights are accelerating toward winter, peaking at the winter solstice, or the shortest day. Then the days slowly get longer again. The cycle is as old as the earth itself, I suppose.
Here’s a cool infographic that explains why this happens: http://www.livescience.com/31264-season-season-earth-equinoxes-solstices-infographic.html
Fall is a melancholy time of year, but to me it’s the most beautiful. I love it that summer goes away in a burst of bright colors before the bleakness of winter. The leaves haven’t started changing yet where I live, but the weather is slowly cooling, and it’s harder to get up before 7 a.m. when the sun rises.
As a child I remember looking forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving. I didn’t look forward so much to standing out in the dark, waiting for the school bus in the morning! I remember seeing the sun come up from a school bus window as the bus wound its way through the hills of the countryside, mist rising from the hollows.
And here in Sleepy Hollow Country, Halloween has turned into a big celebration! I’m still stunned to see busloads of tourists coming down Route 9.
Let’s enjoy the brilliance of fall. Winter comes soon enough.
writinghersense 