Autumn Musings

Today is September 21, 2010. My grandmother would be 90 years today, and I only wish that I could pick up the phone or drive up to Glendale to say “happy birthday”. I know that she would love the fact that I live in Cincinnati and that I plan to marry the grandson of one of her childhood friends. I’ll have a Dewars on the rocks in her honor tonight.

Today is also two days before the official start of autumn. Like many of you, I am asking that same, old question: Where on earth did summer go? Instead of searching for an answer, I plan to look ahead and not “fall back” although the time change will be here before we know it.

Having lived in Boston for three years, the advent of fall always brought a feeling of beginnings. I attribute that to all of the colleges and universities in the greater Boston area that welcome back students in September. The feeling of starting anew permeates the air, even for those who are not in academia. I always found myself thinking about resolutions and goals in the fall, and this year is no different. The way I see it, you can look at it two ways. One, fall is an opportunity to put the rest of the year behind you and embrace life in a fresh way. Two, we now only have a few short months before the end of the year. Time to dust off those resolutions we all made for ourselves back in January and see if we can meet those goals before December 31. For me, that means dusting off my blog and making the most of what Cincinnati (and life) has to offer.

This fall is particularly meaningful as I celebrate one year of Cincinnati living. Forget summer...where on earth did this YEAR go?!? Things have certainly changed since September 2009. Aside from creating an often-neglected blog, I’ve developed a sense of belonging in Ohio. Everyone I’ve met over the past year has been gracious and welcoming, and there have very few moments of homesickness. The the chance to learn more about my family’s history in southwestern Ohio and the opportunity to visit some of the places that featured prominently in my ancestors’ lives has been engaging and rewardng. I've reveled in the comparatively affordable cost of living in Ohio - a living that certainly doesn't sacrifice the good things in life for the sake of lower prices.

September 2010 and beyond excites and energizes me. Cultural events in Cincinnati, dinner parties and dates with good friends and family, wedding planning and celebrations, and more fun activites yet to be discovered. I hope that everyone out there will also seize the opportunity to enjoy all that is out there and embrace the final months of 2010.