Falling Back into My Favorite Time of Year

Falling Back into My Favorite Time of Year

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

There is a familiar rhythm to the arrival of fall in eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio. The mornings get a little cooler, the hills slowly trade their summer green for shades of yellow, orange and red, and signs of the season begin popping up everywhere — from front porches to football fields.

Today, Tuesday, September 22, marks the first official day of fall. For me, it also marks the beginning of my favorite time of year.

There is just something about fall that feels different. The cooler temperatures, changing leaves, football, bonfires and all the traditions that come with the season are things I look forward to every year. And perhaps best of all, fall means my favorite holidays are right around the corner. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are waiting just ahead, bringing plenty of opportunities to celebrate, gather with family and make memories.

For many families across the Tri-State, fall means Friday night football, high school bands, festivals, hayrides, bonfires and evenings spent outside before winter arrives.

The first day of fall, or the autumnal equinox, marks the beginning of the Northern Hemisphere's transition from summer toward winter. The equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, bringing nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness.

From here, the days will gradually become shorter and the nights longer. Around the Ohio River Valley, the changing daylight will soon be matched by one of the most beautiful sights of the season — our hills covered in fall color.

Eventually, we'll also turn our clocks back as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. Most Americans move their clocks forward in March and back in November. (U.S. Department of Transportation) This year, that happens Sunday, November 1.

The history of changing the clocks goes back more than a century. The United States first adopted Daylight Saving Time nationally in 1918, and Congress later established the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

For many of us, that extra hour of sleep in November will be welcome, even if it means those evenings start getting darker a little earlier. But before we get there, there is still plenty of fall to enjoy.

Soon, leaves will cover sidewalks and yards. The first frosts will arrive in the mornings. The smell of wood burning will drift through neighborhoods, and families will begin preparing for the holidays.

One of my favorite things about fall is how it seems to invite us to slow down. A drive through the hills can become an afternoon adventure. A football game can turn into an evening with friends and neighbors. Even sitting on the porch on a cool evening can feel like a little escape from the busyness of everyday life.

Today, as the calendar officially turns to fall, we don't have to look far to see the season beginning to make its entrance. The trees will tell us. The cooler mornings will tell us. The shorter evenings will tell us. And eventually, the clocks will tell us, too. For now, though, I'm simply happy to welcome my favorite season back.

Fall has arrived, bringing changing leaves, cool evenings, familiar traditions and the anticipation of some of my favorite days of the year. There is a lot to look forward to in the weeks ahead, and I, for one, am ready for all of it.

Happy first day of fall, y'all!