Today our temperature has dropped 20 degrees and it is a welcome relief. Yesterday it was very hot but I did see a lot of leaves falling. I say every year that you can feel a hint of fall in August. Perhaps this year…just at its conclusion…will not disappoint.

September 1 arrives this week. Although it was brutally hot it still flew by. Such is life where you begin an event like a season of the year and you look away or become distracted for a bit…and the event or season is over.

The DuQuoin State Fair is in town. I remember when attending the Fair was the epitome of my summer. Those were the days when brightly colored lights and shows of the mysterious captivated my attention. The Fair had an unexplained mystery. Where did these people come from and where did they go when they left DuQuoin? The Carnies looked grizzled and haggard and seemed to be people who did not suffer fools gladly. In the neon-illuminated darkness, shadows loomed and danced. They beckoned to follow them around the dark corner as they had additional surprises. There was delicious fudge and fried treats and beer if you were old enough or knew someone who was.

We often went to a church meeting in Kingsport, Tennessee. I loved making this trip because the people of the Tennessee congregation were so friendly. The church had a large band. I mean a band with saxophones and trumpets and trombones and clarinets and flutes…and more. They played a marvelous song entitled, Looking For A City, and it caused me to want to look for the city. We first discovered the little-known, at the time, a restaurant called the Cracker Barrel. For years it was my favorite eatery. At times on the way home to Illinois we stopped at Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Eating at the Brass Lantern or The Peddler was a delight. Stepping into Gatlinburg was taking a trip back in time. The Smoky Mountains are hypnotic. I could and have looked at them for hours.

So fall will soon be here. Fall renews me. Great comfort is inherent in Autumn. My and Aaron’s birthdays are in Autumn. MJ’s favorite holiday Thanksgiving is in Autumn…and Christmas is coming…