Autumn

I took Fancy for a walk this afternoon and it took me twice as long to finish our loop than normal because I kept stopping and staring at the leaves on the trees.  Autumn is my favorite time of year and I always made a point to take a drive in the mountains in September to see the colors.  Now I live in Oregon and the colors are right outside my door.

I've never seen color like this before.  Vibrant reds and oranges, the leaves start turning red around the edges, moving to orange, yellow and finally bright green in the center.  It's crazy beautiful.  My walking route takes me along a part of a street that is completely covered by trees.  The leaves, which were a light green in September have turned hot pink, and look like they are glowing with the afternoon sun shining through them.  It almost looks like a tunnel made out of pink flower petals.  I keep meaning to take my camera with me, but I always forget. Maybe I will tomorrow, though the leaves could be all gone by then, more and more fall every day.

The weather itself couldn't be more perfect.  We're getting more rain and it's cloudy more often than not already, but the temperature is mild, in the 60's. Even when it's raining. The boys and I go to the park everyday wearing sweatshirts, but quickly have to shed them because it gets too warm when we're chasing each other around.

The rain itself isn't what I'm used to.  There have been a few days with short downpours (and I assume these will become longer and more frequent as we move into winter), but it seems most of the time it's just wet out.  Sprinkling and misty.  It's humid enough to make my hair fuzz up into an impressive white girl afro reminiscent of that one time my mom gave me a home perm, but not enough to be uncomfortable in any way (unless you have to be seen in public with me and my 'fro, that's uncomfortable, I'm sure).

I find myself wanting to be outside all the time.  Rain or shine, I want to be outside.  I've never been very outdoorsy, but these days I'm forcing my family to go on nature walks with me several times a week.  The air is so clean and fresh.  It's easier to breathe here because we're at a lower altitude, so I never get winded walking up a hill.  I may even give jogging a try again.  Or not. I really hate jogging.

I feel so lucky to be able to live here, a place I'm falling in love with every day.  I am nervous about winter, it's so strange not to know what to expect.  But I feel like I could forgive Portland of anything it decides to throw at us this winter, as long as it rewards me with a spectacular autumn every year.