7 Things My Family Taught Me To Love About Autumn

The First Day of School — The temperature begins to change and there is a sense of something new on the way. The colder air makes the senses sharper and more alert. It is like a jolt to the system as we walk down the street to get the mail or start the car in the morning before work. It becomes clear that the sweltering heat of summer has passed and something new has begun. School is beginning once again. It is a fresh start.

Young children starting their very first day at school. Excitedly carrying their book bags to the bus stop. Proud but nervous parents waiting nearby getting the First Day of School snapshot for Facebook. It is the first day of a new journey for both the children and the parents.

I always enjoyed school when I was young. I knew from a young age I wanted to be a teacher and spend my time in school. The first day of school was always exciting as I met my new teacher, saw the decorations in the classroom, and unpacked my newly purchased school supplies.

Change in the Leaves — The changes in nature are one of the most splendid things about this season. It always brings attention to the world around us. With today's society, we are always busy and looking down at our screens. Now, with children glued to Ipads and cellphones, they are missing out on some of the memories I cherish most from my childhood.

When that crisp, autumn breeze sets in and we look around, it is not hard to spot the new and bright colors that the season brings with it. It also makes for a great family day to go and see the changing leaves. Drive through Vermont and Upstate New York to see the way nature sheds it's summer glow for an autumn rainbow.

My family and I would often go for family drives with my grandfather. With some snacks packed away, we would all hop in the car and set off driving. Often with no real destination in mind, my father would sit behind the wheel and pick a direction to drive in. My mother and grandfather passed the time sharing stories and telling us children about the places we were driving past. Before long, we would end up on a long stretch of road lined with trees that seemed to be lit up with the bright shades of orange, yellow, red, and hints of green that had not changed yet. It was always a breathtaking sight.

Cozy Foods — Can you say Pumpkin Spice? Ah, yes, it is that time of year once more. The time where tea, warm coffee, and hot chocolate fill our cutely decorated mugs. Pies and soups fly off the shelves at grocery stores. I love the smell of cinnamon and pecans as I buy all the autumn-themed foods. The change in seasons impacts all of our senses, including our sense of taste. New foods have come into season and feel more appropriate for the weather and activities we are experiencing.

On chilly nights, my mother always cooked stew or split pea soup — thick, heavy foods that, as my father would say, "Sticks to your bones." As an adult, whenever I eat these foods, it always brings back the warmest memories. I am immediately transported back to the kitchen table from my childhood, eating dinner with my siblings as the news was left on in the other room, and my parents are doing the dishes.

As we make our way through the season, the pumpkin-flavored food items jump off the shelves. I am reminded of my younger brother. As a child, he always adored pumpkin pie. It was always his favorite dessert, and being his birthday is on one of the biggest Autumn Holidays, Halloween, he never had a traditional birthday cake. He always requested Pumpkin Pie for his birthday.

Warm Clothes — As many children do, I always hated the layers we needed to start wearing as the temperature changed throughout the season. Still, the idea of thermals and long socks makes me itch and cringe. Though, as an adult now, I love digging out my sweatshirts and long pants. I love wearing gloves and scarves.

SCARVES!!! My personal favorite accessory finally comes back into season. Warm and fuzzy fabrics keep us nice and toasty while out in the chilly air. Creating a snugly sense of security, it is time to dig out our adult versions of a blanket when we wrap ourselves in thick coats, hats and gloves. The chilly air makes our bodies seek warmth and comfort.

New Hobbies — With the cooler air setting in, pools are beginning to close and the beaches beginning to empty out. We need to find new ways to spend our free time. It was always a dreaded day in my family when the pool closed. School had started so we were not spending the entire day outside anymore. By the time we got home from school, it was getting dark and too cold to swim. That was when my parents finally decided to close the pool. With the pool gone, what was left for us to do?

My mother knew. We would roam around pumpkin patches and apple farms, enjoying the scenery, foods, and other people you met at these places. As a kid, I loved getting my face painted at the farms or getting hot chocolate as a special treat.

Then there was also the fun we children had running around the back yard "raking the leaves." Somehow, the leaves never managed to get raked. Instead, we imagined ourselves deep in the woods, trying to survive in the harsh elements, using the leaves and twigs as fire or a miniature tent. The temperature change did not ever impact our wild imaginations. We still spent as much time as we could outside despite the change in seasons. I look back on those cloudy days and smile, thinking of the mischief we created in our own backyard.

Spooky and Scary Things — I love the difference between these two things. As a person who really is not into the horror movie thing (Yes, I am just an eight-year-old stuck in the body of a twenty-four-year-old's body), I can still completely enjoy the excitement of monsters and ghouls. Spooky, fuzzy, fake spiders versus the expertly-applied, fake blood or body paint for the creepiest looks imaginable. I'll pass on all the horror movies and shows but if you put on Halloween Town, Beetlejuice, or Scooby Doo Ghoul School, then I am all loving all things Halloween.

As I mentioned before, my younger brother's birthday is Halloween so it was always a big event for my family. We always had some kind of Halloween party to celebrate his birthday. Each year, trying to improve the haunted house, we would change the decorations, the music, and even some of the games. One year, we went all out and laid out a table of gross foods for my brothers' friends to blindly dig through as if they were body parts.

I have always been a fan of spooky—all things witches, werewolves, and vampire-related—so I have always enjoyed the themes surrounding the spooky holiday of Halloween, even though I avoid the horror and truly terrifying aspects of the holiday.

Holidays—With the change in the wind, excitement starts to bubble. We are just around the corner from the holiday season. I personally believe that here in America, Halloween is the start of the holiday season. With just a few weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving, I officially dub the spooky holiday the start of all the celebration fun. Any reason to step back from our daily routines of life and celebrate is fine by me. So if there is a day for us to enjoy spooky and scary things rather than worry about paying rent or the phone bill then I am going to celebrate and enjoy that day. Any excuse to love life.

Every season brings something new to enjoy as we bask in the festive spirit we create memories with those around us. I cherish the memories I made with my family growing up and carry them with me as an adult. Going into autumn this year, I am thrilled to think about the exciting times I have had before and what exciting times I may share with my loved ones this year.