I'm a Fool for Fall!

It's more than the crisp air and God's artwork on display...

Ah, spring. The time when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love. Or some such nonsense. Have you ever noticed the age-old saying mentions nothing of women? Did you ever wonder why? It might be because I have too much time on my hands, but with a full-time job, a wonderful husband, three kids and a dachshund, I doubt that's it. As my husband, Jim, often says, "Honey, your mind works in strange ways."

Nashville, TN - So what thoughts occur in a woman's mind during springtime? Sure the trees are budding, daffodils are blooming, birds return to sing us awake in the morning, but that's not it. I can't speak for all women, but I'm willing to bet a good number of us think of camouflage. No, not the military uniform my soldier wears each day, but things we can use to cover ourselves in this season of peeling layers. Big T-shirts, to hide the "comfort food" we ate during the winter, and light and long, flowing skirts to camouflage the cottage cheese legs and blossoming rear end, etc.

Personally, this is my time of year. There's the crisp air, void of any hint of humidity. Apples and pumpkins bring beautiful color to fall gardens, and the leaves on the trees turn gorgeous shades of cranberry, gold and orange. It's the reason I left the Deep South after college graduation. I missed the change of seasons. Fall also gives us an excuse to light a fire. Burning fires smell almost as wonderful as they look and feel.

But there's more to fall than the natural beauty, falling temperatures and burning embers. And my reasons for loving this particular season are purely superficial!

I love fall because I can legally cover up. No more white ankles and thighs (also known as the farmer's tan) created from wearing long shorts and crew socks while playing and working in the summer sun. I can wear big, bulky sweaters and sweatshirts, with long sleeves, preferably looser than the arms they cover.

The summer's hottest fashions in 2015 included things not meant for middle-aged women (strappy blouses, sleeveless T-shirts and tube tops...Eeew!). Now I can drag out my beloved turtlenecks. Fashion tip, ladies. If you want to look instantly thinner, pull a turtleneck over your head. The transformation is amazing!

Right in line with fall fashion is fall holidays. I'm not sure who planned it this way, but I'm guessing it was the Pilgrim ladies. Even back then, these women had the presence of mind to put off celebrating Thanksgiving until fall. That way we can eat the turkey, stuffing, sweet potato souffle, hot buttered rolls and pumpkin pie, and hide it all under a big black dress. Genius! We don't give those pilgrim women enough credit.

The stores are hip to our chocolate cravings. They love fall as much as we do. They put Halloween candy on the shelves on Sept. 1, and print advertisements tout the virtues of preparedness. Yeah, right. They just want you to stock up on ten bags of candy, knowing you'll eat it all inside five days and come back for more just in time to greet the little ghosts and goblins on October 31. At the same time they bring out the season's newest sweaters, knowing that after eating all that chocolate, you'll be back for a whole new wardrobe.

Oh, sure, spring is fine, and summer is warm and wonderful. Winter even has its good points. But show me an island in the middle of the ocean where it's 55 degrees year-round and the required uniform is a pair of elastic-waist jeans and a big sweater (with a turtleneck, of course), and I'll book a permanent vacation home.

[media id="12307']

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online