It’s halfway through October and fall is finally upon us.

Last Wednesday, I stepped outside into the early morning and finally felt the crisp air I’ve been waiting for. Many people long for warmth, but I’m happiest in a jacket and boots. Finally, my sandals are retired for the year. 

There is a lot to love about autumn—first, the smells. Roaming through stores sniffing fall scented candles is a form of therapy for me. Currently, my own place alternates between an apple scented candle sent by my godmother, a pumpkin candle from an indulgent Target excursion and an old applewood and amber Woodwick candle whose sounds are just as good as its scent. 

Baked goods are acceptable any time of year, but during the cold months they take on a new importance. The only rival to a good fall candle is the smell of chocolate chip banana bread, honey granola, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or apple pie baking in the oven. 

Whether you like pumpkin-flavored lattes or not, there’s no denying the drink tastes like a liquid version of the fall season. I drink black coffee daily, but I love a pumpkin-flavored latte and I purchase pumpkin spice flavored creamer between October and November.

There are pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hot chocolate and haunted houses. 

Though there’s nothing quite as scary as the year 2020, Halloween still provides a respite from real life. Something especially needed this year. I’m not a lover of scary movies, but I do enjoy a classic badly made scary movie from the 1980s like the Halloween franchise or the old Carrie. The holiday always makes me think of my first scary movie in third grade, I know what you did last summer.  I watched it with my classmate, Megan, who I still call a good friend today. We flipped back and forth between the movie and Dallas Cowboy football, the team of both of our dads, to provide some relief. Football and spooky movies are two fall necessities. 

I don’t frequent NFL Sunday football as much as I did living with my superfan dad or going to school in Philadelphia Eagle country, but I turn a game on once in awhile to channel that feeling of eating buffalo chicken wing dip with family or friends, wearing a jersey for a team whether they lose 12 games or win 16. 

I think of the years I spent playing soccer throughout the fall, from age five to 17. When I could feel it coming to an end as the air turned so cold I could see my breath, signaling the approach of winter. 

Wyoming doesn’t grow as many trees as my hometown in Pennsylvania does, but there is still nothing like seeing the leaves finally change from green to shades of red, orange and yellow. The crunch of dead leaves on the ground is a sound like no other. 

This year has been tough on everyone in some way. Fall signals a few things: one, 2020 is almost over; two, Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the horizon. For me, this means I’ll soon be reunited with my family and friends living on the other side of the country.

Despite the craziness of this year, one thing has been consistent: the smells, sounds and feelings of glorious fall.