Indian Summer

I’m in a bit of a pickle.

You see, I had this blog written – in my head, at least. No, I hadn’t actual committed pen to paper or in the highly electronic world I live in, fingers to keyboard, which doesn’t sound nearly as romantic. My post was going to be called ‘Fall has ... fallen?’

You see, the temperatures around here the last couple of weeks had been hovering in the mid to lower 50’s and the overnight lows were dipping dangerously close to 40. Adam and I had been discussing the issue of turning on the heat. Or more accurately, we had been discussing trying to figure out how radiators work. I held strong though; I was adamant that we wouldn’t turn on the heat until October 1st. I don’t care how far north of Texas I am, it just seems absurd to me to turn on the heat in September.

The long-range forecast was calling for snow by the middle of October. I just wasn’t sure I could have my birthday with snow on the ground. I remember years where I went swimming at my grandmother’s house on my birthday. Snow seemed crazy. I cleared anything without sleeves and most things with short sleeve out of the closet. I moved in all the sweaters and turtlenecks I could find – we were lucky in the fact that we found out we were coming over here in mid-February just as winter clothes were going on clearance in Texas. My winter wardrobe selection is much broader than it’s ever been before.

I took pictures of trees in the autumn colors. They are beautiful, reds and oranges a few deep purple berry flowers mixed in. Sunflowers as big as your head. Even the pine trees were cooperating and I was able to get some pictures of their needles covering the walkway through the park I walk on my way to work. It was going to be an amazing post.

Amazing.

Then something happened.

We’ve entered into an Indian Summer. It is warm. Or hot by British standards. The temperature got to (you might want to sit down from this) 82 degrees here today. The locals are flocking to the beaches, the National Health Service is urging people to check on their elderly neighbors and parents (Mom, Dad – you guys okay?), the television news is running 10 minute segments on how to apply sunscreen and tips for staying cool (apparently, stay in the shade & drink water not beer).

At work today we had our ‘away day’, similar to your 5th grade field day. The 70 or so in my group all met at a historic manor house in Bristol – well, one of them, there are several, you know. The day included several team building challenges all of which were outside. It was pre planned – we would have done the same activities whether it was 80 & sunny or 50 & raining. I loved it. Couldn’t have been happier (except maybe if my team had won a challenge or two). Today was a beautiful day; sunny, warm, I got to wear shorts to work and enjoy the day outside. Days like this are much better outside than in front of my laptop. My colleagues, on the other hand, spent most of the day trying to huddle under a tree to avoid the sun and fanning themselves with the team challenge instruction sheets.

Though I’ll always be excited to come home, I’m not looking forward to our first Texas summer back (especially if it’s anything like the one you all went through this year), but a few more days that top 80 degrees are going to be very welcomed by this transplant.

You’ll just have to wait until I get cold again to see my fall pictures. Until then, I hear some ice cream calling my name!