As I lay in my bed last night getting ready to get some sleep, I was being cooled by the nice breeze coming in through the open window by my bed. Now, the breeze is off the water, I live on Copano Bay, so it feels cooler than a breeze that comes over land. The day had been nice with reasonable temperatures for a change. The first cool front of the year brought some more much needed rain and the chill of an early fall.
I know that reminds me of a sad George Strait song, but I love this time of year. The coast is clearing of all its summer refuge of visitors. It’s till too early for the “snow birds” to be driving their aluminum coated suitcase down to infest our towns and shopping stores. There is a lazy calm to the low country when fall comes. It’s not fogged by the arrival of spring, but creeps to a slow beat with only a promise of colder weather.
I’m sure when I was younger that the death of summer was devastating, but I surely don’t remember that to be so. I remember the excitement of school, of course football, coon huntin’, prom queens, and state fairs. Just as they are now, the cool winds of fall somehow make me feel right with the world.
Now I don’t get to do much coon huntin’ anymore, (that dog don’t hunt no more), but I do like the beach when the chilly wind comes. The smell of oysters roasting on a campfire mixed with the salty spray of the ocean might make some turn their nose but not this boy. We had a “White Christmas” about 4 years ago here in the Coastal Bend of Texas. That hadn’t happened in more than 80 years. I’ve lived in Texas all my life (48 years) and have only seen snow a hand full of times, but never for Christmas. So that day what did I do? I went and pulled the bag of oysters I had stashed off the bulkhead, and sat in my shorts and roasted several dozen. It was glorious!
So I welcome the cool wind and the winter. The Leonid Meteors are coming up in a couple of months. Christmas is just around the corner. The promise of lower electric bills and good trout fishing are on the way. What more could I ask for….an egg in my beer?
Ah, that first cool spell. I love it. The football and Lon Morris smell cool has not set in yet.
On some brisk morning, in the near future, I hope to find myself outside and being sent back to a time with no cares. The first Lon Morris cool front is on it’s way, I just know it.
Mary