LIVING: In Canada, fall marks the return to routine

Fall leaves along the shore of Deer Lake photographed on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 . Jenelle Schneider/PNG

Fall is the precursor to winter; it basically prepares us for the cold.

The orange and brown leaves on the ground and swift chilly breeze are hallmarks for fall. They signal the return of a routine: Fresh academic year at school, season premieres of favourite shows, pumpkin carving and Halloween costumes overflowing at the stores. The latest fall fashions also arrive, with jackets, hats and scarves coming out to guard against the chill.

Winter can bring minus Celsius weather, shorter darker days, snowflakes or hail and black ice. For those not used to it, it can be a pain. If you have a destination to reach, plane cancellations during holidays, no driving due to black ice can all cause huge disruptions. The simple shovel commitment that strains your back and gives you frost bite is also something that you don’t look forward to. For winter lovers, the chill brings adrenalin, the opportunity to hit the snowy slopes to ski , sleding down the hills with classmates, snowball fights with friends and warming up by the fireplace, so that the family can cozy up with hot cocoa and warm blankets

The sign for spring is blossoms on the trees, raindrops dripping from the gutters to the lush grass and birds chirping at sunrise. For some it is allergy season with all the new pollen in the air. For others it’s back to the garden to plant the new seeds and soil the grass. It is time to fertilize for the farmers so the new crop can sprout, and students can enjoy the spring break and go on vacation and de-stress from midterms. For the kids it is a sign that they can start riding their bikes around the neighborhood.

Then there is summer with flowers blooming and bees hovering around, long sunny days followed by balmy starry nights. At night many can be attacked by those maddening mosquitoes but the smart people know to bring a repellent so they can enjoy roasting marshmallows in the firepit. For parents it can be long hot days in the office while their children at home eagerly jump up and down the trampoline with friends and play with the water hose to cool off their sweaty bodies. For some it’s time to tan and for others it’s time to bump up to a higher SPF to avoid burns. Family picnics at the beach, bbqs and patio drinking are just a few ways people socialize in the summer.

From a young age we were taught to identify the four seasons. Here in B.C. we are fortunate to see all four in their element but not in the extreme. Weather and seasons affect different people in different ways. For some certain times of the year bring stress, burden, and a sense of sadness and for others all seasons represent different opportunities for excitement, laughter and joy.

Ray Ray: Just another brown gal is a writer for Vancouver Desi. She can be contacted at ray.grewal16@gmail.com

Tags: Autumn, Fall, Raymon Grewal