Fall Cometh

The question on the radio this morning was "What tells you that fall is here? What is a sign of fall for you?"

I'm ready for fall; here's what will make me think it has arrived:

• Blue, blue skies and brilliant colored leaves (obvious, I know, but living in West Virginia, these really are the signs of fall. It's a beautiful time of year in our state.
• Pumpkins at the Capitol Market.
• Candy corn
• School buses
• The desire to wear sweaters
• The willingness to keep a sweater on
• Sneakers instead of sandles
• Preparation for an Emmaus walk (I've only ever been on the October walk)
• Hunting for a coat to walk the dog
• High school football
• Sounds of the band practicing (we can hear the marching band from our front porch when the weather and wind are right).
• Christmas decorations (isn't that sad?)
• Premier of new seasons of television programs
• Mornings are darker; evenings are darker