It’s been summer weather in Nashville, which I have to say I don’t mind, but even in the south the Earth circle the sun at the same rate, i.e. the days get shorter and the nights stretch well into the morning. On Halloween, as is typical in Nashville, we had a sudden freeze. Suddenly, it was in the 20s overnight and only reaching to the high 40s during the day. I noticed that it jump-started certain behaviors that I tend to associate with winter even though it will be back into the 70s this weekend.

I’ve been adding ‘cover/uncover’ the plants to my to-do list the past few days. On October 30th, I did a final harvest of tomatoes and peppers, knowing any fruit left on the vine probably wouldn’t survive the freeze, covered or not. I may get a few more peppers and a couple of late tomatoes into Thanksgiving, but we’re in the home stretch.

I basically began the process of powering down the garden.

The sun sets so early now I no longer want to sit at my desk and write by my big windows after work. Instead I’ve been surging through my to-do list as quickly as possible and prepping myself for bed as early as I can. I now want to write snuggled up in bed with lots of blankets and cats on my legs. Even when it was warmer, I was moving in this direction as it grew darker.

Even Aang has swapped from sleeping in a basket in the front room to the cozier circle in our room.

We put orange and purple lights up for Halloween. Much of our outside decor is fallish, so that it can be used through Thanksgiving as well. (With the removal of a few pumpkins.) I like to leave the lights up until after Thanksgiving when we swap them out for Christmas lights. The reason for this is entirely based on my early morning runs. I like a little light when I leave the house. It brings me joy.

I’ve been lighting candles and incense more. I wish we had a fireplace, but we don’t, so I’ve taken to starting tiny fires around me. I enjoy the glow.

We do have a portable gas fire pit. I LOVE the fire pit. The past few days have been too cold for it, but tonight an author friend is coming over to discuss the recent read of one of my manuscripts and we’ve excitedly discussed bringing out the fire pit and blankets so that Dean can do his videogame streaming in the living room without either of us bothering the other. I have been looking at the forecast tonight, wondering if I might get some firepit-side-writing in before bed-writing time.

I have book events two weekends in November and then I’ll be heading home for Thanksgiving immediately. Dean and I have been discussing travel plans for both holidays. I’ve been applying to book festivals that take place in 2024. The year is winding down.

And I’m actually here for it.

In Chicago I used to dread the first snow. Genuine sadness crashed over me along with that first cold snap. I just knew it was going to be long, hard, and painful. (Winters in Chicago are not just uncomfortable, they are painful.) So although I did have several obvious seasonal shifts—crime shows to Friends reruns, watching movies on the couch to wind down to reading in bed as soon as possible—I never looked forward to this time. I never relished it, I never appreciated it, I would have gladly put myself into hibernation until it was over.

There’s something about writing next to fire.

Now in my fourth year living in Nashville, I find I’m enjoying this transition. I’m looking forward to the shift. The focus on family gathering and holidays from the hustle of book travel and networking, the writing and creating in my dark candlelit den as opposed to the editing and marketing launch I’ve just completed. Soups instead of grilled veggies. Red wine instead of white. Hot tea instead of sparking water. Blankets and candles rather than tank tops and patios. Don’t get me wrong, I love ALL of those things, and I am still a die-hard summer girl, but everyone needs a change and a break. We are cyclical beings on a cyclical world, and for once, finally, I’m looking forward to the entire cycle instead of just my favorite parts.

I used to dread autumn.