Nostalgia accompanies the October air as the greens of summer trees turn orange, yellow, brown, and burgundy. This month fills my mind with thoughts of my many October childhood memories. From growing up in Addis Ababa to my first journey as a young woman to America, the month of October has always crowded my life with happiness and joy.
In Ethiopia, the weather went mostly unmentioned, the months and years came and went without people noticing the differences. The entire year had a similar weather pattern, but even with that being the norm I was able to find the qualities that made October so beautiful and unique. From the feeling of the warm sunshine on my skin to cooler evening temperatures blowing around me, and the vibrant color-shifting greenery; October became a personal treasure of mine.
In the southern hemisphere, spring starts September 1st. Unlike being the tenth month in the Gregorian calendar, October is the second month in the Ethiopian calendar. As opposed to four seasons in the northern hemisphere, there are only two seasons (rainy and dry) in Ethiopia. September is also the first month that marks the transition from the rainy to the dry season, hence, similarly like in the USA, October brings plenty of sunshine with comfortable temperatures throughout the day. The only difference is that the country sees blooming flowers as opposed to dying and falling leaves. Both hemispheres enjoy clear skies and sunny but cooler days.
Fall foliage in the Washington, DC area comes with many pleasant memories as well. On a personal level and beyond the physical beauty of the season, it marks my November wedding. While preparing for one of the most eventful days of my life, I was extremely fortunate that September and October were the main backdrops to life at that time. These lifelong memories created leading up to such a special day fill me with nostalgia each time October peaks its head out.
And right when I thought October had delivered all the memory and sentiment it could, out came another special moment in my life with my first child’s birth. With the maternity leave granted to me in the weeks leading up to his birth, I had time to step back from the pregnancy and soak in the surroundings of October while my mind happily raced about the future. I couldn’t have asked for a better month to have my first child.
October brings nostalgic moments to mind annually. I make an effort to stay in the northern hemisphere, specifically, in the Washington, DC area as that was my first stop in the USA. It is incredible that October can keep being a month of memories and good feelings as it never ceases to amaze me how connected I am to this time of the year. Admiring and enjoying the picturesque scenery of the season; October is always new and exciting!
The bright and glorious mornings, the breathtaking blue skies, the crisp air, the colorful shedding leaves dancing and twirling in front of our eyes to only land on parked cars or scatter throughout the neighborhood sticks to mind. The whistling winds moving through the dry and crackling trees, the short daylights, the gorgeous and cooler evenings, the football season are all ingrained in my memories.
Pumpkin carvings, women looking elegant in their burnt-orange outfits, high-heel boots, sweaters and scarves, fragrance and subtle makeup, and hairdos without the disturbance of summer humidity meet the eye. Nature’s beauty in migrating birds and monarch butterflies crowding the airways while nut and acorn-gathering squirrels scurry around. I could close my eyes and imagine these things at any time. These are some of the symbolic reasons informing my connection and nostalgia with October and Fall as a whole.
Now, I am thrilled to have this opportunity to launch my website and blog during the month of October, while adoring the beauty it brings. This launch itself is also another big milestone for me, and it is only right to start it in October!