Slapdash: fall, the reason people live here

fall, the reason people live here

I’ve lived in New York for four years now, and this much I know is true: the reason people stay here is because they know fall is coming.

For a few years I’ve thought September is my favorite month here in Minnesota. Not too hot anymore, not too cold yet, and so many new colors to see. (The Cedar Lake Trail is beautiful right now, except for the concrete stockpiles maybe, which unlike the leaves haven’t turned.) I probably didn’t appreciate it growing up, when “first month of school” overshadowed September’s other qualities. Now I’m back, and it doesn’t.

I don’t know when I stopped biking. I don’t remember riding a bike in college or high school. That doesn’t mean I didn’t do it. I bike a lot now. What I’ve been thinking this week is how every good biking day in fall is one to cherish, because you know it won’t be long before biking is somewhere between bearable and not, so today you’d better get out there and enjoy it, you never know, this could be the last one.

Cats don’t know. Cats don’t know it’s going to get cold again, they only know how it is now. I don’t know if that’s better or worse. In any case, our cats don’t go outside, and our downstairs neighbors pretty much keep our apartment warm all winter. Plus, cats can’t ride bikes.