The Onslaught of Fall

The temperature has dropped, the leaves have begun to change from deep green to all shades of gold and fire red, and we are undoubtedly knee deep into fall. Fall is unquestionably my favorite season with only one exception: like clockwork, I get sick. Like groundhogs mark the end of winter, my health marks the beginning of fall. In Texas, I was confronted with a mere cold that faded away within a few days, but if last year is the model for colder climates, I will be doing epic battle against this cold for weeks.


Last year was my first “real” fall. I was in Toulouse, France and sometime in early November it began to rain and didn’t stop. I caught the “gripe,” and it was as bad as it sounds. This year’s my health witnessed a slow descent into scratchy throat, watery eyes, and sinus woes. My teeth even ache, if you can believe it. And so currently, I’m feeling a bit like death personified.

All this is compounded by our current house temperature. Having to turn on the gas for heat is an entirely new concept for me. Growing up, we just flipped a switch and presto! Instant heat. Not so here. Our landlord’s son has to come to the house and turn it on for us. That means our house fluctuates between the low 50s at night to the low 60s during the day. I suppose it could be worse, at least it’s warmer inside than out, where it is currently 45 and raining. It pains me to even think of it.

According to my roommates, my room is the coldest in the house, which makes it an arctic wonderland at night. I’ve adapted to my new sleeping environment with plannel (plaid flannel) pajama pants, a long sleeve thermal shirt over my tee shirt, wool socks, and a total of five blankets over my usual sheets. Only when I am buried under all these layers am I truly warm. The problem is, I feel a bit suffocated.

A small price to pay for warmth.