Autumn Approaches

There is something about this time of year that always makes me introspective. Everything I see or smell seems to trigger a memory. The low humidity brings a less diffuse light, and everything appears in crisper focus. Colours are brighter. Blues were never so blue.

And the familiar smells of an approaching autumn are so comforting. The occasional whif of a burning pile of leaves. Strong spices begin to take their place on menus: nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom. Pumpkins and squashes are again popular.

Of course, my favourite holidays come three in a row: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. In the middle lies my mother's birthday, another special time for a family day.