Faking Fall

So when you live in Texas, sometimes you have to fake yourself into remembering that other seasons exist. Obviously we have enough summer. Last winter was my first in Texas and I struggled because it got cold for like 3 weeks in February. That was it. Not much of a winter…

Last November I was wearing shorts and T-shirts outside. It did not feel like holidays could possibly be coming. So before Thanksgiving I cranked up the A/C and started listening to Christmas music. People thought I was crazy… I probably was, but I needed something to make me feel like winter was coming. 

So this week we are faking fall. I love fall. It is by far my favorite season. I love pumpkins. I love leaves changing colors. I love hay rides. Ok—I can't remember the last time I was on a hay ride, but I love knowing that if I wanted to go on one I totally could. I love wearing sweatshirts. I love the smells of fall. I love EVERYTHING about fall. I even love a rainy fall day. There isn't a fall in Texas. At some point in January it finally gets cold enough that you turn your A/C off and turn your heater on.

Here we are for our last REAL fall (from 2009) in the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC 

So as I mentioned yesterday, this week we are blessed with highs of 90s and lows of 60. So this morning I took full advantage. I went to Starbucks and ordered a Pumpkin Spice Latte and drove to work (yes on the highway) with the windows down. If you squint a little bit and use your imagination you can even convince yourself that the brown grass and trees are not from 5 months of 100+ degree temps with no rain, but instead are the lovely side effects of fall. Ok, maybe that is stretching it a little.

Yum.

But for 60 wonderful minutes it didn't feel like I was living on the face of the sun. It felt like MAYBE fall was coming. And a few times, when driving at the bottom of a valley, I even had a goose bump or two. I forgot goose bumps even existed.

Side note: It is very important to fake fall and winter EARLY in Texas, because at Starbucks they introduce their fall flavors now, and their winter flavors in a month or so. Then, after the new year they stop selling them. So, when it finally gets cold enough in Texas to drink a HOT beverage, the fun wintery flavors aren't being offered anymore. I found this out the hard way last year. It was a major buzzkill.

<3 From Texas in the Fall (or at least until Sunday when the 97-100+ degree temps come back)