It's Fall in Seattle

This is a blog post by Verity Mom finalist, Timara Freeman-Young

Since moving to the NW thirteen years ago, my relationship with fall has been on the rocks. We used to be pretty chummy. I remember early morning strolls on the FSU campus, kicking leaves; cuddled in a sweater with a thick wool blend, my hippie skirt floating behind me, train style. Me and fall.

The fall I fell in love with was crisp and dry with a hint of sunshine. 

Then I moved to Washington and the honeymoon ended. She’s still lovely and all, fall. Colorful, crisp and bright, but she’s also the knell of summer’s end; often a too short summer, at that.

Now, when the first leaves slide across the color wheel; kelly green blending to magenta, lime to ochre; instead of pulling out my favorite jumper, the faint sound of a dirge slowly builds in my ear and chases me down the sidewalk as an army of raindrops. The glee that used to accompany fall’s arrival has been replaced by the dull thud of disappointment. Summer is gone. All three weeks of it, gone.

So I was feeling a little bitter last week when James and I had finally made it outside for a fall walk when the rain began to come down. It wasn't your typical Seattle mist or tidy sprinkle but a deluge. A soaking wet, squeeze-your-socks-out kind of rain.

Having spent over an hour just getting out the door, I was determined to have our walk and LIKE IT. I am so glad we took the plunge. Check out these beautiful colors! Turns out the rain made the lighting just right. And like all sweet love stories, it ended with a rainbow. James' first. I don’t want to jump the gun here but I think there’s a pretty good chance that fall and I are going to give it another go.

Timara