The gum trees outside the back fence are turning red, yellow and orange; the squirrels are alternating between scurrying around collecting nuts and avoiding our dogs who are running around crazily because of the brisk weather. Soon the pine trees will drop dull yellow needles that will coat the ground in overlapping circles beneath their trunks. The oak leaves will pile up in the yard blown against the fence in random piles perfect for a momentary childhood diversion–if i would be so inclined.
And i will miss it this year. Fall in the pinelands of NJ has always been my favorite; and stuck downtown in Chicago i wont get a chance to see the gum trees explode in color, or the squirrels play their carefully choreographed dances cheating certain death by dog, nor will i get to play football on the slippery needles beneath the pines. And hard as it may be to imagine, Chicago doesn't offer many chances to jump in a pile of crispy, crunchy leaves feeling them scratch against my face and smelling the dark scent of earth and the sweet aroma of fall that can only be experienced while rolling in a pile of fallen foliage.
Its all a rather nostalgic thought for me and i cant escape it, no more than i can escape the changing weather or the candy stuffed in every store shelf. But on a happier note, Chicago does have some rather diverting haunted corn mazes that are fun to traverse with friends–especially the girls who run and scream when the guy with the fake chainsaw runs at us. its all rather amusing. though, not as amusing as watching the squirrels run when lucky chases them.
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