One of my favorite things about California is its lovely, mild weather. We don’t often experience horrific humidity or hellacious heat waves, unless you count seven day stretches at 100 degrees. No serious tornadoes, torrential downpours, hurricanes or blizzards. Sure, we get the occasional heavy gusts, rainstorms, lightning strikes and funnel clouds, but these pale in comparison to what folks in the Midwest, East Coast and South have to experience every season. I am so grateful!
Unfortunately, because of the lack of seasonal variation, especially in my part of the state, we don’t generally experience seasons and Californians seem to overlook how easy our lives are thanks to this temperate weather. Summers average 85 degrees, autumn weather falls to about 60 degrees, winter drops to 45 degrees, and spring averages 65 degrees, all with about a 10-degree variant. Throw in some non-strategically timed showers, fog and windy days (and the traffic jams as a result!) and there you have it: California.
Though the calendar has already announced the arrival of fall, California has staunchly rebelled against the notion, sporadically giving us 87 degree afternoons, sunshowers and downpours. The leaves are clinging stubbornly to their branches and turning a lovely hue of… brown. Unlike the East Coast, where fall invites the most vibrant stage of life for their lovely, lush foliage, California’s dull, fleeting “fall colors” are but a fading reminder that the leaves are dying. Where has the fall gone? A neighbor of mine appears to have jubilantly unearthed her boxes of holiday swag, resulting in a landscape of blinking Christmas lights and reindeer lawn ornaments as well as some pumpkins and a scarecrow. Go big or go home. We are very confused out here. Oh, if only we had true seasons to properly direct our aimless decorative impulses.
Nevertheless, it’s mid-October and the local supermarkets have begun to pile bright pumpkins and gnarled, warty gourds throughout their stores to lure the uncertain masses to the season. Leave your flip flops at home; it’s fall!, they seem to implore. I can’t wait to lug home dozens of pumpkins three days before Halloween (you know, when they’re discounted to $1 each for quick selling) and decorate the bejeezus out of them! Seventh House on the Left has collected some amazing ideas that I am excited to try, except in the cheapest way possible. I have recruited my good friend, Talls, to help with the lugging as I nearly threw out my back carrying a 40-lb pumpkin last year (totally worth it). Since I don’t trust myself with a carving knife, I’m thinking spray paints and glitter. A pile of snazzily decorated pumpkins may not be as striking as reindeer and lights, but I have to ring in the season somehow. Whatever season this is.
