Seasons Change

It’s inevitable, and was bound to happen, But, the shorter days now make me sad…and when I think of how much shorter they will be I get really bummed. Yes, fall is almost here, and as much as I like the cool, crisp air we’re experiencing some mornings, I miss the sunshine lasting til 9 p.m.

I remind myself that you can’t have everything. Long days are a sign of summer. And, as summer subsides, so does the daylight. I should be thrilled. I think fall is my favorite time of year (spring is a close second), so the shorter days should excite me. Not me, I’m greedy…I’d like to have both. Pretty or at least manageable weather and long days. But that’s not how God made this old world, so I accept it.

I do relish the cooler temperatures. And, football games are lots of fun (but I’m still a diehard baseball fan and still have this month to enjoy that). Speaking of baseball, the Braves have less than 20 games left and could be in the playoffs or not, so it is still very interesting. It’s really sad each time they lose, especially to a team that seems not to be as good. But hope springs eternal, and the sky is still the limit.

But, I digress, I was writing about the changing season as it pertains to weather, not sports. But, both matter.

Chris Bridges who used to write a column for this newspaper freely admitted he suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is where one becomes depressed in the short cold days of winter.

I get it. I’ve not been officially diagnosed, but I feel it for real. And, I clearly remember after the shortest day of the year last December, how I started noticing the days getting longer, albeit slowly.

It’s a great world we live in, and when you’ve seen it go around as many years as I have, you have some assurance that spring will follow winter, just as fall will follow summer. I think I spent too much time in air conditioning this summer, so I’m not sick of the heat and welcoming the cool enough. But, in reality, life is good, whatever season it may be.

I tend to be an optimist, looking for the bright side of a situation…it’s so much better than the alternative. But, I have people around me that seem to always be able to see the bad side rather than the good side of anything.

I hope I never come across as being negative. I realize how richly blessed I am…and the weather is just something to take in stride like everything else that makes this world go round.

I started this column to talk about the weather…and a press release I received about where to go pre-season leaf-peeping. One of the places is teh Chatthoochee-Oconee National Forest. It says in north Georgia the higher elevations of the forest begin showing all colors by mid-September.

It also names many other places, but no others in Georgia. Obviously going north the leaves change a ittle sooner. I remember riding the Blue Ridge Parkway as a child adn admiring the fall colors. My parents thought we shoudl experience the beauty of the world around us.

I think that’s a good idea…every day. We live on a wonderful earth.