signs of fall

The evening air that carried the smell of roasting green chile earlier in the day is developing a chill. Mornings are becoming cool enough to require a long-sleeved shirt for running; evening walks require me to carry a sweatshirt, even if I don't actually put it on.

And of course, yesterday morning brought the first edition of ESPN College GameDay of the 2012 football season. College football. Oh. Yeah. Baby. We'll talk about teams later... it's a very confused situation, between my first alma mater, the University of New Mexico, my second alma mater, the University of Florida, and my family's devotion to the University of Notre Dame... for now, I'll just say I'm glad all three won their season openers yesterday.

Yes, fall is upon us... or at least, it's nearby. And since everyone is Facebook-status-updating or blogging about fall today, I guess I might as well join the party.

And I love fall. Summer and fall are my favorite seasons. With all its colors and flavors, fall in New Mexico is an event - but at the moment, it's an event I don't feel quite ready for. It feels really weird to type those words, because I've felt that crisp tinge in the air signaling fall's arrival, and I recognize that yes, it's time for the season to change. And while I'm ready for the green chile (been peeling fresh roasted Hatch green today), I like running in cooler air, and I'm ready for the evenings that actually do require a sweatshirt, I haven't finished letting summer go, and I'm REALLY not ready for the days to get shorter. I crave daylight.

So aside from the obvious: I'd be a terrible vampire, and I'd suck at living in Seattle, it's a good thing I have 20 "official" days of summer left. I'm not done with summer, even if summer is done with me. I'm sure that by the time September 22 rolls around, we'll have reached an agreement to be apart until next year, but I'm noooooooootttttt quiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttte there yet.

On the flip side, I'm grateful for the fact that, unlike so many things in life, this isn't going to be a "snap" transition. And, it makes me consider how God prepares us for what's next, even when we don't recognize it.

+Peace and good.

And a photo shout-out to my second alma mater, the University of Florida. You have no idea how much I'd love to see a game in this stadium this fall - my first football season as an alumnus.
"Florida, our Alma Mater, thy glorious name we praise, all thy loyal sons and daughters, a joyous song shall raise…"

Go Gators!