The scent of a season
There is magic in the air
Just a short little piece today, the kind of one that jumps into your fingertips in spite of you saying to yourself ‘I’m not going to do any writing today’. A piece that doesn’t respect the other 50 draft essays that have patiently been waiting for their time in the sun. Nor your commitment that that today will be the day you actually get through all the ‘life admin’ before the new term starts, because you get up…and smell the air.
This day happens once a year, the day where the first sense of autumn hits. It isn’t as simple as a smell though, or a temperature - it’s been colder than this in the middle of July - it’s a whole body feeling. It’s in the air, whispering around my skin. There is change ahead.
I see lots of writers talk about the seasons, discussing which is their favourite. I am fickle with my favourites because in different ways I love them all. I don’t suffer from Seasonal Affected Disorder (although my youngest daughter really does). I get excited by the anticipatory sensation of transformation, and feel greatly saddened as the clear definition of the ‘four’ British seasons of my life thus far begins to undeniably blur into just two longer ones...
After a long winter, I am delighted by the spring, where hope and rebirth permeates the grey. Summer conjures imagined sounds of laughter and play, expectations of halcyon days yet to be created amidst the disappointment of too much rain or frazzling in the heat. Memories to be stored in the photo albums of our mind.
Winter brings a sense of excitement. Despite the complexities around grief that are shovelled in alongside the expectations of the festive season to compensate for the absence of snow, I unashamedly love Christmas. We are a family of fairy lights, Frank Sinatra and hot chocolate; blanket days, films and cheese…so much cheese. (Although I concede that January and February are pretty shit and remain grateful that Feb is a birthday month to alleviate the dreariness).
But then, there is Autumn. Autumn is perhaps my favourite season of all. If spring is a fairy, then autumn is a sprite. Autumn holds delightful mischief. I can feel magic being whipped up like the swirling leaves. It is a wonderful and really specific feeling, and I felt it today. The scent of oranges (although not yet the cloves), the desire to spend evenings by the firepit, the rich darkness of a cold night sky saturated with the promise of woodsmoke and sparkles.
I visited the supermarket today and felt the sunflowers plaintively calling me, their wilting heads following my sun. Knowing that their day has become yesterday as I breeze past. I observe ice lollies frozen in time as I eschew them and reach for aubergines, squash, lamb, ginger, cinnamon and garlic. My yearnings turning to foods warm with depth and the colours of a setting sun.
I want to spend evenings by the fire pit with red wine and roasted chestnuts. To feel the tendrils of autumn stroke my hair into a smoky and windswept tangle. To wake up to the colours in full on coupling with their glorious opposites.
Today is that day.
It is in the air - do you feel it? 🍁
How do you notice the change of seasons? Do you have a favourite? Do you mourn or celebrate the change? I’d love to hear.
As always,
Love & lemons 💕🍋
Em xx
Our apples are ripe, and so prolific we are feeding the street, so I guess it must be autumn, though we had our best summer day yesterday. I love all the seasons, but I especially love the changes that herald them - the first snowdrop to brave its head, the first leaf to fall, the first day of sandal wearing, the first frost. My elderly neighbour is always delighted to experience another spring. One day she won’t have any more springs, and that’s a change in season too.
After a stifling, humid, hard-to-breath week here in Kentucky, a hint of autumn came yesterday. A "cold front" brought temps down to around 80 degrees, which prompted me to open every window on my main level. I LOVE the change in seasons and a house that can be cooled with the wind. Thanks for sharing!