Now that we’re settling into the particularly chilly Northeast Fall temps, Fall activities, and seemingly shorter days, I’m trying to remain focused, busy, productive, and not Fall Back into slouchy ways, oversized sweats, and couch potatoing. (Yes, that’s apparently now a verb: to potato.) Believe it or not, Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the crisp air, a fluffy scarf, and snappy boots that make me feel stylish when they click clack against the ground. I appreciate the changing leaves, the smells of Thanksgiving, and the hustle and bustle of busy holiday sales. I won’t even get into the thrill of homemade Apple Cider Donuts with the crunchy sugared outsides from that amazing stand at 66th and Broadway at the greenmarket on Saturdays. (Uh-oh. I went there!) They are my all-time favorite and oh, my Lord & Taylor! And c’mon, I love a good snuggle with my main squeeze. (The donuts, the snuggle. Are you getting a good visual here?) But what kills me is the darkness at around 4:30pm.
My humble abode faces due East. So the spectacular sunrise is most prominent in all of my rooms early in the morning. The sun warms the whole apartment and gives incredible light to an otherwise ordinary space. But as the day wears on, the sun is so low in the sky this time of year, that I lose that light around 11am. And then darkness beckons late afternoon. And I’m not just talking dark, I mean pitch black! When I sit at my desk near the windows in the living room, it feels strangely like midnight around 5pm. I’m sure all my Northern neighbors can relate. It’s sort of a bizarre phenomenon.
I met my good friend Phyllis last Sunday. We had a fun time doing a little shopping at Bloomingdale’s and stopped for lunch at our favorite retail-centric Chinese restaurant, Land of Plenty on East 58th Street. Over General Tso’s Chicken and some Spicy Baby Eggplant in Garlic Sauce which was nothing short of spectacular as usual, we sat with coats and scarves on; I just couldn’t shake the chill, as she sipped hot green tea to warm up.
When we parted ways, delicious leftovers in hand, I ran to catch the crosstown bus to go home, but I missed it. So I stood outside at the shelterless stop and waited as the sun sank and the wind started to howl. Brrr! I debated taking an Uber, but I hate to do that when the bus is practically door to door. So I waited outside, shivering. My daytime look was no match for the setting sun and falling temps. For the first time this year, I was actually chilly! And I was reminded that Fall Back leads to the dreaded Winter season. So for all you Baratheons, Tullys, Greyjoys, Lannisters, Targaryens, and watchers of Game of Thrones, as Lord Eddard Stark said, “Winter is coming.” Indeed.
Most tourists think Winter in NYC is just magical! The lights, the stores, the decorations, the skating, the Park. If you’re a resident, and most of your errands are spent on foot braving the elements, harsh Winters just suck! The salt ruins your shoes. Your coat takes a beating with the snow-ice-rain combo pelting your outerwear. While it’s freezing above ground, a crowded subway in a bundled coat could lead you to practically keel over from heat exhaustion. And it’s hard to schlep packages when the crosswalks sport murky puddles of unknown depths. I seriously think they look like black holes that can just swallow you up! So as much I love Fall, I’m happy to leapfrog right over Winter and get ready for warmer weather once again.
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