Changing of seasons

 

This weekend confirmed it. The weather said it is now fall and there is no turning back. Don’t get me wrong, living in a city where you can actually experience what it feels like to have seasons is lovely. I enjoy stepping out in scarves not just because they can be paired nicely with my outfit and truly appreciate the warm seasonal beverages while I walk in the brisk air …and all that pretty sounding stuff.  However, this is also the first indication that it will get frigidly cold soon and will likely be so for the next six months. Given this inevitability, it was time to go into storage to retrieve the winter like clothing items that I gladly stowed away when we first got back up to 60 degrees last spring. With some sadness, I filled a bag or two of fun light dresses, bathing suits, and other summery fare. Another interesting part of living in a place with seasons…and perhaps living in a place where I get to pay a large amount of money for a shoebox of a living space…is the storing away of seasonal clothing. I do enjoy being able to dump out a bag of winter clothes to the benefit of finding a bunch of items that I had completely forgot I owned, albeit mostly trendy pieces that are no longer as relevant.

The Chicago marathon also happened this Sunday and the route actually encircles the area I live in. I got inspired to wake up early and walk alongside the runner path. After being here five years, this is the first year that I have actually been up and about to view the event. I am typically hiding under sheets completely oblivious and/or hung over. As I was walking the path, I found myself feeling emotional about the whole thing. I was thinking of the huge accomplishment of the dozens upon dozens of people running ahead of me. I noticed myself getting choked up when I saw several women in their 60s pass me. I thought how amazing it was that these women were still doing it as I watched them all run off the track, pull down their leggings and pop a squat in the middle of a wide-open area of grass. After that, I noticed the dismaying amount of people, young old, man, woman alike pulling off to do their business. Kinda took away from the whole decorum of the moment. Regardless of the lack of shame, I think I am going to sign up for another 5k again for next month to remind myself that I hate running again.

*Monica