Fall vs. Autumn

Fall, so named for leaves which do and golf putts which don't is here again.

There pholks, I've said it once more. Yep, my annual ode to the end of summer and the arrival of fall, aka autumn, a nice word which seems to be dwindling in our usage. How often have you heard anyone say, "gee autumn is coming and I can't wait. I really am anxious to get my autumn planting done."

They never call the World Series the "Autumn Classic" and the new television season is never referred to as the "Autumn Lineup." I've never had a girlfriend or wife or any other female close to my heart or my fantasy mention shopping for an "autumn wardrobe."

Fall is a better word. It's shorter, easier to spell and somehow just seems to fit. Blistering temperatures come to an end, or "fall", when summer ends. Leaves, of course, fall - as my theme phrase points out, and the number of hours of daylight "fall" when summer ends.

How many of you pholks have ever said, "Boy, can't you just feel Autumn in the air?" Of course Autumn has several specific uses which seem to just fit the phrase, such as the 1964 song "Autumn Leaves Must Fall" by Chad and Jeremy or its use as a color description for quilting materials or a person's complexion.

To most of us, even though we seldom stop to think about it, the arrival of fall changes our daily lifestyles, tickles our senses and plays with our minds.

The morning chill sends us to the linen closet or wherever we store blankets, comforters or bedspreads. We don't yet need theses amenities to keep warm, rather they provide what I term a snuggle factor. They add to the comfort of a bed mate and somehow seem to make waking up a little more drawn out event.

For some the morning coffee seems to smell and taste better and breakfast is more of a pleasure than a chore.

Fall also makes the first steps outside the home an event...the feel of that fresh air instead of the initial morning heat which can taint our anticipation of the day to come. Morning fall air has a lot in common with Spring morning air. Spring and fall morning air generally win the contest with Winter and Summer air, at least in my scoreboard.

Those of us who enjoy mowing the lawn, up to a point, get a change of chores when the leaves fall on the lawn which is, for all practical purposes dormant. Of course, not being permitted to burn leaves certainly takes away one of the rituals of fall. Today, if you smell smoke in your neighborhood in the Fall, someone's house is on fire, there's a barbeque or somebody's car didn't pass smog inspection. Just imagine pholks, how many of our children and grandchildren will never experience the tickle of burning leaves in their nostrils. It's just a one-of-a-kind smell you never forget.

Of course raking leaves and jumping into the piles is still a Fall ritual which so far hasn't been outlawed. Of course, I certainly wouldn't place any big bets that won't happen in the next ten or so years.

Leaf raking is been done more often these days in the mornings contingent to the weekend college or pro football schedule, unless, of course, you have kids playing youth soccer or football.

I like Summer but enough is enough already. The Fall countdown is this week. I'm ready. The only thing bad about Fall, however, is that soon we have to "Fall Back" which means very short afternoons and dark before 5 p.m.

Oh well, there is always Spring.

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