Fall...

Like a light switch, fall starts. The way the sun hits everything, you know its fall. Fall brings love, cheer, happiness and life.

CHEER: The players in the stands. Somehow when football starts, fall starts. The togetherness of crowds come as they shuffle into the stadium with scarfs and hot chocolates. The get togethers, and the hoo-ra's, fall brings laughter, spirit and a lot of talking mess. Granted the longhorns are the best collegiate team, but to see the fans in the stands freezing their butts off and wanting to be nowhere else is proof that fall brings some light and fun.

HAPPINESS: The bugs cease, the cookouts fade, and the soups and warm dinners arrive. Blankets come out, and holidays are just around the corner. The houses smell like cinnamon and spice, and everything seems to have a glow to it. Even the way people smile, its warmer. The laughter seems more genuine and child-like. No wonder, as Halloween brings out the dress-up days and the justification to BOO the crap out of people. When dad brings "family bonding" to the group as everyone grabs a rake and rakes all day yet still enjoying head-diving into the huge pile of leaves. Fall brings thanksgiving and to me that means family. Where everyone is in the kitchen reminiscing on blissful, embarrassing and all the in between memories. The entire kitchen packed with person's, food and joy. Happiness is defintely fall.

LIFE: The way the sun shines on the leaves is different. The leaves seem to come out and dance on the earth with color. The lake looks darker, cold and mysterious. The wind is chilly, making coffee not something to wake you up, but to keep you warm. You can hear the wind laying in bed which makes you bring the covers up to your chin, thankful for warm fires and mittens. The sun is loved and the way it warms your soul and cheeks when it creeps between the trees. The way it nestles itself perfectly between the branches and makes the red's and oranges of the trees pop and make your insides warm. Everywhere around you is colder but more warm then the summer days. Fall invites life and everywhere I look seems more alive.

LOVE: As fall comes and life and happiness blows in, it only makes you want to spend the romantic evenings with someone. The way you "have" to cuddle next to someone to stay warm only invites the crush to burst into love. When the evenings get so cold your teeth chatter on a date and you both start laughing because of it, and he rubs your arms fast to keep you warm. Cold hands linked together as your stroll the stores looking at Christmas displayed too early in the windows. Lights scatter everywhere like stars that happened to be sprinkled on the sidewalks, windows and light posts. Fireplaces, candles, and blankets are all more reason to enjoy fall and the warmth it brings on the coldest nights. Fall brings love.

I get to experience this, like a light switch turning on. And everywhere I look its magic all wrapped up, inviting me to unravel its gift.