OCTOBER FIRST, 2024

 

We have made the transition into another month, this time, we are putting the month of September behind us.

September was a particularly boring month with nothing special to remind us of it, at least, not me and my family.

October plunges us into Fall marked by decreasing temperatures, leaves turning colors and falling, Halloween, and the decorating (carving) of pumpkins.

I've always had good memories of October but maybe because this is my birthday month.  However, with that aside, I really like the weather that is typically associated with October, and fondly remember unpacking all my flannel shirts.

Of course, many others see October as being well into College and Professional football and all the tailgating that is going to be done all across the USA.  The rest of the world does not quite understand the mania that is associated with football.

Growing up in Alexandria, VA which is located 4 miles south of Washington, DC, my family was focused on the WASHINGTON REDSKINS every time they played.  My family always enjoyed watching the Redskins whether they won or lost but I never attended one of their games.

I was highly disappointed when they changed their name.

The downside for me with Fall/OCTOBER is the raking of leaves.

Our house had lots of trees in the front yard, so we had lots of leaves to rake.  I would rake them, and my dad would burn them in a drainage gulley that separated our yard from the road.  It was an all-afternoon affair and was accomplished over a period of 2-3 Saturdays, since we never did yard work on Sundays.

My mother would always make a big pot of GOULASH while we were raking to be eaten for dinner.