I used to live down south where fall was just a slightly less hot summer.
- I had to keep the AC on all day long.
I didn’t get into the fall spirit with pumpkins, Halloween, apple cider or any of that. The leaves always fell and the weather was hot. I just wasn’t in the mood. When I moved to Illinois, specifically Orland Park, that all changed. I was used to hot weather all year around and in Orland I get all four seasons. It gets significantly colder in the fall season, starting as early as September. I remember the first year being shocked and relieved that I didn’t have to have my AC system blasting on me. I hate the feeling of that cold, dry air on me. Letting the AC take a break and opening the window for a fresh breeze felt amazing. I also got to see leaves changing and felt in the fall spirit. I actually bought cider, squash and roasted pumpkin seeds. In Orland Park there is the Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm and Fall Fest. It has tons of pumpkins, pony rides, corn maize, hay rides, pig races and even more fun. When my friends who were locals suggested we go, I was excited. I had never raced through corn or actually been to a pumpkin patch. I had never decorated for Halloween before. Suddenly I was making faces of ghosts, buying mums and drinking cider on the weekends. It is way better celebrating fall when it feels like it.