Falling Into the Season: Why Autumn Feels Like Home by Mariam Ndao
There’ s something about fall that just feels like a deep breath after a long, humid summer. The air shifts from sticky to crisp, the sunsets turn golden earlier, and suddenly everyone is digging out their sweaters from the back of their closets. Living in Gilroy, I feel like autumn is when our towns really shine.
The first thing I notice when fall rolls in is the smell. You know what I mean: the mix of fireplaces burning, wet leaves on the ground, and someone somewhere baking pumpkin bread. It’ s one of those sensory things that tells you instantly,“ Yep, it’ s fall.” Walking to school in the morning with the chill nipping at your nose just hits different things than trudging through the heat in August. Suddenly, hoodies and beanies are socially acceptable again, and
personally, I live for hoodie season.
The Fall Aesthetic
Let’ s be honest, fall is the most Instagrammable season. The leaves around our towns go from bright green to shades of orange, red, and gold that look like they belong in a painting. Whether you’ re taking a walk downtown, heading to the park, or just wandering your neighborhood, there are free photo backdrops everywhere. Some of the best shots I’ ve seen on my feed aren’ t taken at big landmarks or pumpkin patches but literally right on someone’ s street when the leaves cover the sidewalks.
But it’ s not just about the photos. Fall has this cozy vibe that no other season can copy. Even rainy days feel kind of poetic when it’ s October. A blanket, a warm drink, and maybe a scary movie or two— it’ s like the season itself gives you permission to slow down and chill for a bit.
School Season Vibes
Of course, fall also means school is officially in full swing. The beginningof-the-year excitement( or dread) has faded, and now we’ re all deep into homework, tests, and sports practices. But weirdly, the fall weather makes it
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