Where the west wind blows(11/6)

It is fall 2024 here. The cold wind bites my skin and I watch as summer fades into the horizon. The leaves are turning brown and will now fall off the trees to leave them barren. It all just seems to say that winter is coming and dreary weather is on its way. It's hard not to miss summer and the warm, relaxing weather that it provides. Then I remember that fall is when the sun still shines bright, the air is crisp and it is the start of a new holiday season. With this thought I feel comforted and a little excited. 

There are two important holidays that start us off this season which are Halloween and Thanksgiving. Even if one doesn't celebrate Halloween it is hard to resist eating more candy than usual or thinking of trying on that cool costume you've seen in ads or on social media. Halloween is a spooky fun holiday that is unlike other holidays. Halloween is of a darker nature. It deals with things that would usually make a person uncomfortable or scared. Magic, witches, demons, ghosts, ghouls, vampires are just some things that are popular on this holiday. 

Some think it is an evil holiday. I like to think that it is a day where we are reminded that the world is filled with different things(bad and good) and we can draw inspiration from the least likely places. Even if something looks bad, it doesn't mean it is all bad. We may have gotten into an accident, made a bad mistake or been dealt a hand we don't think we can manage but it is often not as bad as it looks. As we get over it we realize that we are strong enough and we can face our destiny just like how we want to.

After a cool month of October we have November which is usually when it starts raining for the west coast. It becomes cold and the skies are cloudy. Yet Thanksgiving is one of the most fun holidays of the year. The very name is to remind us to give thanks and to count our blessings. Pumpkins have as much of a presence as it did on Halloween. Pumpkin flavored treats have become a staple for fall and you're likely to find it as part of a Thanksgiving feast. 

Each year the way we celebrate these holidays are a little different. Just to be part of the planning seems to be a treat. There are not many things one can say that about. It's a time when we put our creativity together and come up with something special. A big part of learning to enjoy the holidays is to get into the spirit and to help make your chosen event a success. As you gather 'round the table this year remember that you are fortunate to be able to because there are those who may not be able to do even that due to disastrous weather, poor/failing health and other things. One thing we can all be thankful for this Thanksgiving is to be able to celebrate it with the people we care about.

With the start of another holiday season and delicious fall flavors, food and colors all around us I begin to get excited about this windy, cooldown season.