A step toward the fall

I must say, I'm enjoying the recent infusion of fall weather into the scheme of things.

The overcast skies and cool, fresh air energize me and give newfound life to my day. I feel like things are good and I'm at peace when I'm just walking, not necessarily with a destination in mind. It's like I can just walk and silently watch the world pass me by as my worries wash away with the occasional drizzles we've had.

Not only that, but this type of weather always takes me back to my senior year in high school during my fall cross country season. I remember after a good, hard run, going out to my '72 Cougar convertible, putting on some country and just letting it all engulf me. It was a great feeling, one I've tried to keep bottled with me and can pull out when needed.

I revel in difficult, physical feats and manual labor. It gives me such a great feeling of accomplishment, something I don't usually get in college because so much of it is useless when it comes to accomplishing physical things.

Don't get me wrong, I love deep discussions and pondering, but sometimes I just want to put on a pair of holey jeans, a flannel shirt and go help my dad split wood or work on my truck.

And when weather like this comes around, I just have that feeling and can carry it with me and the world has a tougher time getting to me. It's like my own invisible patronus.

Some days there's nothing more I'd rather do than take that someone special out to a pond I know, push off in the boat and just float the evening and night away under the light of the moon and stars. Sheltered by the trees as the gentle wind playfully caresses the surface of the water where fresh air pervades everything.

While I'm nothin short of a dreamer, there's not much better than fall. The feelings it invokes in me money could never buy.