Change is in the air.

This is the view from my deck this evening. Is that smoke, roiling up from the hillside? That might be your first conclusion. It certainly looks like smoke, the kind that could chase hikers out of the foothills... But this is actually a storm cloud building up over the hill. I like to think it's the prelude to fall.

My friend Olivia refuses to accept the fact that summer is coming to an end. I'm excited about the impending change--fall just happens to be my favorite season. Olivia and I have discussed the merits of my favorite season, but all she sees is the end of another beautiful summer. But I have to wonder, after seeing these thick clouds march down the valleys, how can she continue to refuse the obvious and unstoppable change that is coming?


We argued just yesterday about whether or not summer was truly ending. I pointed out the changing colors--the oranges of the oak trees are already becoming visible on the hillside. But she doesn't want to acknowledge the truth that I can see.

The weather is cooler than it's been. In fact, we've had rain and increasing clouds throughout the day. The temperatures are falling, the winds are kicking up, the clouds no longer look light and fluffy... And the most telling sign that fall is upon us? The kids are back in school. Fall is just around the corner... Yay!