+Falling Into Autumn

The past few days we've been falling into the season of autumn. It's getting colder outside, our cars have been a little frosty in the mornings, the leaves are changing, and that feeling in my stomach is back. Fall is upon us.

The smells and the sights are driving me crazy. When I open my window or go outside, I get an awkward gut feeling. The smell of outside reminds me of home. Home for me smells like the crisp, cold, fresh smell of trees and rain; it smells like warm cinnamon like the candles my mother always pulled out around the time of Halloween. The reefs being hung and the orange leaves falling from the trees makes me happy.

Fall has always been my favorite season. I always loved Halloween. My parents always had a Halloween party with the parents while the kids all went trick or treating. I loved coming home to a dimly lit house with people everywhere and great food placed all over the kitchen. Running upstairs to the game room with a pillowcase full of candy to see all my friends and my brothers on the floor separating and trading their candy. It was a delicate process for us, we must organize each piece, decide what we do not want, and offer to trade candies with each other. We'd all sit there with our costume make-up half smeared down our faces, our masks on the floor, and our shoes scattered around the room. After the sorting and everyone is back from trick-or-treating, we would all jump on the trampoline or play hide and go seek.

It's different here in Iowa than from my hometown in Florida though. It is much colder here, and it looks less colorful. Everything here is more black and white here. It might just be the snow, but in Florida everything was so bright and it’s still vivid in my mind. The bright orange and red leaves, the bright green frosted grass, it was all so beautiful. I just remember so much from my childhood in Ocala.

Fall and winter were the same in Ocala. My memories mix together, unlike here where it is clear when winter comes. I remember the smell of a new Christmas tree, the sweet pine and cinnamon aroma flowing through the atmosphere of my home.

Light up Ocala, such a beautiful sight:

The annual Christmas parade we always attended. The bright lights; colorful floats; and loud noises of sirens, horns, people laughing and people playing Christmas songs on their parade floats. Ocala has such an impact on my thoughts and memories, almost every sight, smell, and noise reminds me of home. I miss it so much; every fall brings back such great memories that make me grateful for growing up in such a great place, but also sad that I had to leave. I wish to return and live there again soon. <3