A Change in the Weather

I woke up freezing today! After a summer of heatwaves and sleeping under a single sheet, it was a bit of a shock to the system, though not an entirely unwelcome one. Suddenly there was rain galloping over the rooftops and gusts of wind flying through the bedroom like airborne ghosts making the windows bang. That was at 5:40 a.m. and it was still black as night out, but I got up. It occurred to me that there’s nothing gradual about the arrival of autumn; it doesn’t come in on tiptoes. Instead, it barges in like an uninvited guest and audaciously makes itself right at home, and you’re supposed to bite your tongue and cater to its every need and appetite like an obedient servant. “Hot chocolate, please!” “Have you a shawl?”