Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts
By Alyce Wilson
November 8, 2007 - Brisk Autumn
I think we've gone straight from summer to winter. This morning, walking our doggie, Una, I'm wearing gloves and a scarf and wish I'd worn a hat.
Only a few weeks ago, when The Gryphon and I returned from our honeymoon, we were still wearing summer clothing. The rapid change has hit me hard.
My cold weather problem of dry skin is starting. When the air gets colder, my hands dry out and get cracked and painful. I'm constantly applying moisturizer.
The leaves don't seem to be turning yet. Maybe they're as confused as I am. They're hanging on the trees, slowly turning yellow or brown. They're getting drier, too. Maybe I'm a tree.
Actually, I've joked with The Gryphon that I'm part amphibian and should have a bowl of water in my office that I can jump into when needed.
Una has always loved dry leaves: rustling through them, sniffing them and, well, piddling in them. It's probably not a good idea to jump in a pile of leaves that's been unattended for any length of time.
She's also fond of squirrels but has learned not to chase them. When they get into flurries of fall activity, she eyes them, longingly.
I love Fall when the first hint of briskness hits the air, not the sort of bitterness that precedes winter.
Of course, there's one advantage to the wintry weather creeping up. Una tends to have an allergic reaction every Fall. To what, I'm not exactly sure. She gets itchy and scratches her skin raw if we don't constantly spray her down with hydrocortisone. I bathe her with a special shampoo and use an oatmeal rinse to medicate her skin.
The allergies abate when the weather turns cold, so hopefully, she'll get some relief soon.
Una spent the first months of her life in Colorado, late fall. In fact, she just turned 8. I always imagine I see a bit of a spring in her step when the weather turns colder. We're most of the way through the walk, and I'm feeling more comfortable. Watching Una bounce through the leaves makes me smile.
I do think, though, that this afternoon I'll wear a hat.
Moral:
Wear more layers than you think you'll need.
Copyright
2006 by Alyce Wilson
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