Summer Ends and Fall begins

Feel that crisp, cool, delicious hint of fall in the air? Isn't it glorious? I have determined that I have the opposite of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I literally hate the sun and the heat of summer. I hate the thought of putting on a bathing suit. I hate to swim. I hate summer fashion. It all depresses me. It wears me down. I feel unenergetic and pressured to be outside. If given the choice, I would spend every summer day in the comfort of air conditioning and reading a good book until this season was over. Although fall seems to be shorter and shorter each year, I relish the days of October. What does it mean to me? Leaves turning beautiful colors, picking apples in the countryside, hiking in the reservation,  celebrating one daughter's birthday and also my birthday,  celebrating my other daughter's wedding anniversary, spendingThanksgiving with the family, and happy in the knowledge that as winter approaches, I have the priviledge of spending Sat. and Sun. mornings with my husband since it becomes a little chilly for golf!
     My friends often suggest I buy a vacation home in Colorado, rather than Florida. They insist I would be ecstatic there. I haven't been to Colorado since I was a teen so I guess I should check it out!Yet, neither will ever actually happen. N.J. is my home and despite Chris Christie, I love it here!  Often people say, of course, fall is great, but winter is sooo horrid. NOPE! I love winter too. I love the cold, wearing cashmere sweaters and suede boots, going to the movies on a weekend afternoon, lighting a fire and reading a book, laying in bed on sunday afternoons, reading the New York Times, and then going out for Chinese food. This all makes me happy.Snow makes me happy!  No pressure to be outside all day battling the crowds at the beach or slaving over a hot grill in 100 degree weather. My oven and stove suffice for creating my minestrone and stuffed peppers. And baking every week is so much fun too!
    And finally, just as the snow and ice begin to become a nuisance, a hint of spring appears. A warmer day, crocuses popping up, a walk in the park where children and dogs are playing. It is another season I like almost as much as Fall and Winter. Why? Because in the back of my mind I know what is coming: the dreaded dog days of summer!