Braving the end of another year
By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
Long days, bikini-clad girls, and patio chairsâitâs going to be a while before we see any of those things again. As the change in season becomes more apparent, people are becoming more irritable. The constant rain, the midday darkness, and the approaching end of another year bring a melancholy feeling that is usually accompanied by an unexpected head cold. Summer is gone, but the transition to winter isnât all mournful and gloomy. Autumn has charming qualities that are worth falling for.
The smell of autumn air, when itâs not yet too cold and still reminiscent of a bygone summer, can refresh the body. Staring off into the distance and seeing the city dappled with red, orange, and yellow, I canât help but breathe in the sweetnessâeven though for a moment I want to complain about the chill and the rain. And itâs my right as a Vancouverite to complain, but I wonât, because that wonât change the weather. What I can do instead is dress for the occasion, and autumn happens to be a very fashionable season. Delightful combinations including scarves, toques, and sweaters might not be the same as showing off my beach body, but hey, argyle looks good on me too.
Sure, I wish the freedom of summer would last forever, but deep down inside I know I need the sophistication of autumn to teach me how to grow and become a responsible human being. Classroom lectures and day jobs begin to fill up the time spent basking in the sun, and itâs okay because itâs progress. And then just when you think youâre on a roll and youâre working too hardâHalloween comes out of nowhere and rewards you. Well, lies, it doesnât come out of nowhere, youâll have been preparing for it a month beforehand, but your PG-13 costume will be so worth it.
Whether Iâm slipping into my Ugg slippers and making some hot chocolate for a long night indoors, or Iâm putting on my cardigan to hunt for the perfect pumpkin at the store, autumn fills me with whimsy. As mature as I am, the season still causes me to conjure up some childlike imaginationâthe kind that says make-believe isnât completely absurd.
The finest entertainment comes during this time of year, too. No, Iâm not just talking about Thanksgiving, family dinners, or other cheesy stuff like that. Iâm saying that autumn means movie theatres are removing the disappointing blockbuster flicks and introducing quality ones which will vie for a spotlight during award season. Itâs also the best time of year for sport fanatics: hockey, American football, and basketball seasons return, while baseball, Canadian football, and soccer head into playoffs.
Sure, I miss the carefree sunny days of summer, but who has time to mope over our fading tans when we have so much autumn to look forward to?
