Transitions

I started this post weeks ago...in September.  Rather than deleting it, I decided it was still relevant and figure I can just add to it.  Hard to believe we have been "home" for 5 weeks already.  Real life has filled our days so much that finishing a blog post always seems to draw the short straw.  Enjoy the fall reflection here and yes, I am still wearing my tired summer clothes and running the AC all day.  Where do you live and is fall in your neighborhood?  May I come visit?

September is a month of transitions, regardless of your stage in life.  It is the month school traditionally began until they moved it into August...sigh.  It is the month we say goodbye to the freedom of summer.  September is the month life returns to a more focused and structured pattern.  The days begin to get shorter and in many places...the weather changes.  Not sure what that all about, but I hear it happens.  Your wardrobe changes.  After months of flip flops, shorts, bathing suits and lightweight clothing, the weather, or life, dictates a wardrobe change in September.  Unless you live down south where the only thing that dictates a wardrobe change in September is wishful thinking.  I have always "theoretically" liked September.

Visions of fall colors dancing in my head.

Living in the south, September inevitably disappoints me.  For most of my life, we spent much of August in Canada and August was the month things like school supplies, and more importantly, fall clothing, appeared in the stores.  I always idealized that distinct change of season...and wardrobe.  I had high hopes of going home and being able to wear pants and shirts with sleeves and maybe a sweater...but instead, when we arrived home, the weather dictated my very tired summer clothes stay in the daily rotation.  Things are no different even returning as late as mid September...so much for that ideal fall season down south.   

The pace of life changes in September, even if our wardrobe doesn't.   School zones are back in effect and the ebb and flow of life follows more structure.  I kind of like structure.  I can remember the bumpy entry into the fall schedule with the kids every year because we chose to return from Nova Scotia at the very last minute possible.  After a summer of relative freedom and unstructured days we suddenly had to be places at specific times, wearing certain clothes and do it all indoors!  The drastic change never came without some rebellion...from both the kids and the adults.  Every year, within a couple of weeks, we had bumped our way into our new rhythm of life.  Transition complete...bring on the football games!

This year was no different.  After a summer on the road, we spent the first few weeks re-engaging...and perspiring.  TJ was back to a regular work schedule that after 18 months involved a couple of business trips.  Can I say it was both strange and enjoyable to be home..in my own house...alone... for the first time in a very long time?  The luxury of having full access to the remote control cannot be underestimated.  Especially when you have not watched TV in 3 months.  I had a lot of catching up to do.  Life almost seemed normal after a couple weeks.  

A few things that have made life feel closer to pre-pandemic times involve weddings.  So many couples ended up postponing or cancelling their weddings in the pandemic.  Now it seems there is a huge rush to the altar.  Go for it!  We have attended a bridal shower and an engagement party over the past 5 weeks.  These gatherings are so overdue!  Everyone is thrilled for these young people and to be able to gather once again and celebrate with them feels wonderful.  Happy times together have been on hold and are even sweeter now.  This only confirms in my mind how essential togetherness is in our existence.  

Speaking of wardrobe changes...has anyone braved shopping lately?  I was humbled and perplexed a couple of weeks ago when I was forced to go out there.  First off...maybe I am not exactly in the same shape I was pre-pandemic.  Secondly, what the H-E- double hockey sticks??!  Who decided that we needed to look like we came out of the pandemic and entered The Little House on the Prairie?  After a couple of humiliating and frustrating efforts to find appropriate clothing for a social gathering I have come to the conclusion that designers are just trying to get back at us for not buying anything for over a year.  Ugh!  Maybe they added giant puffy sleeves to detract from the waistlines that expanded during our extended homestays.  I found myself lost.  Where did I shop before?  Why are all of these clothes so ugly?  What brands used to fit me?  Where do I buy pants to fit me?  And, seriously...high waisted bell-bottoms?  Been there, done that. The downside of rejoining society and going "out" again is remembering how to dress for public again.  I am pretty sure yoga pants, running shorts, hiking clothes or golf clothes are not what people wear to parties.  My closet is full of things that look tired and neglected.  I have been forced to dust off my dormant sense of style and reinvent my wardrobe.  I will not be wearing anything that resembles Laura Ingles Wilder.

There you have it.  Re-entering life at home and slowly entering post pandemic life or just living more fully in a pandemic.  Still wishing for more fall-like weather and searching for clothes to wear in real life.  I hope you are enjoying pumpkin season in a cozy sweater where you live!