Boots Weather

I put on my boots this morning. This should not be a monumental event, but for me…it is the moment that my mind takes a sigh of relief that summer is over, and no one will be wondering why I’m wearing jeans in 105-degree weather. If we all are a season, I am a Fall. I can also be a Winter. Why I live in San Diego with this trait is a mystery since one friend described our weather as 11 months of summer, and one month of bad surfing. (It’s also a wonder that we are friends at all since they are obviously a beachgoer…)

So today I donned my boots and burnt orange shirt and revelled in the morning chill…which lasted until about 830am and then rose to 85 degrees. No matter. It’s October. Even if San Diego’s autumn is really an extended summer, I’ll fake it and just drive with the air on.

The other wonderful thing about boots weather is the passageway to the holiday months. I love all things Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I begin buying Peanut Butter by the pallet to make peanut butter balls and fill every square inch of air with cinnamon. To me, the last three months of the year are the best three months of the year. I eagerly await the passing seasons only to try to make the year-end slowdown. It never does…and is typically gone in a blur.

One change this year makes the holiday season even more magical…the addition of a grandchild. Zander will only be five months old at Christmas but I’ve become excited about adding the toy aisle back into my Christmas shopping. Christmas without children is a bit like going to Disneyland as adults…enjoyable but missing a bit of the wonder (and you walk around thinking that other people are wondering why you’re there.) My son’s family is headed back to San Diego next week as he makes his transition to the Army Reserves and we make our transition from “long-distance” to “down the street” grandparents. Life is good.

I’m up early, enjoying the morning chill before it once again gives way to the Endless Summer of San Diego.  I’m wearing my boots again today…in the air conditioning. No matter…the holiday season is here and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it!