autumn rituals
I love autumn. My favorite season is finally here and I would be all cozy and domestic if Bob and I were already moved into our new apartment. When we signed on the new place in January we worried about moving in the dead of winter. When we started renovations in March, we feared moving in the heat of summer. Now we're back to worrying again about boxes and furniture being dragged across slushy sidewalks. More importantly, I never would have guessed that we wouldn't be through this process before autumn. I thought for sure that we'd be all moved in and unpacked in time to listen to Ella Fitzgerald crooning "Autumn in New York" over and over again, while we sat on our fire-escape or the building's front stoop or in Washington Square Park around the corner.
Even still, I did my best this past weekend to celebrate the return of autumn. The flannel browns and tobacco greens have come back out of the closet. The colors of clothes for this season of the year complement my red hair better than any others. And Bob and I took a few breaks from packing and organizing our Brooklyn apartment to walk around the neighborhood. The air smelled of smoldering leaves (even in Brooklyn) and unseen fireplaces that hinted at whole scenarios of amber lit hearths and homes.
Saturday night we were drawn to one of our favorite autumnal rituals. We made hot chocolate with our new espresso maker (yes, at the push of a button...it's shameless) and settled into our comfy over-stuffed couch to watch To Kill a Mockingbird with a big bowl of popcorn and peanut butter cups. I was more attuned to the details of the movie than I usually am, from the arrestingly beautiful opening credits to Boo's appearance behind the bedroom door. I found myself in tears more than a few times. I realize that I'm overtired enough these days that long-distance calling plan commercials might also make me cry. But To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those outstanding films where story, acting, cinematography and history all come together to make a breathtaking work of art.
Our windows rattled on cue. Bob and I snuggled deeper into the blanket together in the flickering blue light of the television screen, and we controlled ourselves from reciting our favorite lines out loud, even though we both knew how tempted the other was to do so.
Even still, I did my best this past weekend to celebrate the return of autumn. The flannel browns and tobacco greens have come back out of the closet. The colors of clothes for this season of the year complement my red hair better than any others. And Bob and I took a few breaks from packing and organizing our Brooklyn apartment to walk around the neighborhood. The air smelled of smoldering leaves (even in Brooklyn) and unseen fireplaces that hinted at whole scenarios of amber lit hearths and homes.
Saturday night we were drawn to one of our favorite autumnal rituals. We made hot chocolate with our new espresso maker (yes, at the push of a button...it's shameless) and settled into our comfy over-stuffed couch to watch To Kill a Mockingbird with a big bowl of popcorn and peanut butter cups. I was more attuned to the details of the movie than I usually am, from the arrestingly beautiful opening credits to Boo's appearance behind the bedroom door. I found myself in tears more than a few times. I realize that I'm overtired enough these days that long-distance calling plan commercials might also make me cry. But To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those outstanding films where story, acting, cinematography and history all come together to make a breathtaking work of art.
Our windows rattled on cue. Bob and I snuggled deeper into the blanket together in the flickering blue light of the television screen, and we controlled ourselves from reciting our favorite lines out loud, even though we both knew how tempted the other was to do so.
3 Comments:
What a great elegy to autumn. Being from a more rural area, I forget sometimes how lovely Autumn in New York can be. I can hear Ella like a soundtrack to the world... and To Kill A Mockingbird...beautiful...
Hang in there, guys, and enjoy the weather...
I miss Ohio in the autumn...pumpkin festivals, hot cider, leaves, the smell of woodsmoke, sitting in a warm library or in a cafe or bundled up in a big sweater sitting out in someone's back yard for one last barbecue party. It's nice here in New York too, just different.
Your comments inspired me to reflect further on the differences between autumn in New York and autumn where I grew up. Thanks for the inspiration.
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