The leaves of the chestnut tree outside my window have almost all turned brown, a night with the sleeping bag in the dunes had become surprisingly crisp and this morning I could see my breath as I walked outside to my bicycle. The smell in the forest that I pass every day on my way to the beach has changed, too. Soon, there will be the first big storm sweeping the leaves out of the trees which then spin in funny whirlwinds across the sidewalk. More storms will follow, the lows in the Atlantic will deepen and most of us move on with the sun. A busy season gone, we are looking forward to getting to places known and those to discover. We are setting out on new adventures.
The long nights that are about to take over the endless days will make us remember the games we played, the hearts we broke and make us feel heartbroken, too. A wink and a tear, a warm welcome to a stormy, dark, cold autumn that steers up our big seas and sends waves to all our coasts and makes the wind howl through our wooden windows during the night. Empty beaches with soggy dogs and their dark coated owners walking through mind-bending downpours, looking at lighthouses in the distance and seeking a hot cup of fresh brew.
The tan on our skin and the blonde in our hair will remind us for a while of those days when we were looking to get some shade and when we put on SPF 50 a few times per day. They will remind us of times when we could not stay long enough under the rainbows of the water hose. Weeks without waves will seem a faraway illusion.
I might have to get some lights for my bike soon...