First Day of Fall

Today is a first for me.  It's the first time that I can ever remember not being excited about the arrival of fall, ahem, autumn.  Normally, I love the fall . . . the crisp autumn air, the beauty of the changing leaves, the excitement in the air, switching to my long sleeves and sweaters.  It's one of my favorite times of year. 

However, here is what today represents to me this year:
*Much shorter days
*Wearing the same sweaters I've been wearing all "summer"
*Lots of rain
*Gray clouds
*The knowledge that it will be months before I'm warm again

It's amazing how the anticipation of yucky weather can be such a downer.  In my head I know that without fall, winter couldn't get here.  And no winter means no Christmas.  And no fall and winter means no spring . . . you get the idea.  But it's really hard to go through the "changing" of the seasons when all of the seasons seem to run together.

In my next relocation - coming in June 2011 - I fully plan to move somewhere that has four distinct seasons (like Tennessee!) so that as summer fades to fall I will be ready for the change.  But until then, what are your favorite things about the fall?  Perhaps if I live vicariously through you I will regain my excitement and be ready to face it.

P.S. For those of you ready to point out that the first day of fall was yesterday, I just wanted to let you know that this year the first day of fall for North America and Europe are on different days.  So, looking at the bright side - I got an extra day of summer!