Dark?

Dark! The alarm buzzed at me and I swatted at it to stop its infernal racket! What happened? It's dark outside. It can't be time for the alarm to go off. I doze back off and shortly the buzzing begins again, I repeat above action, ignore the room and settle in for more comfort. Something triggers inside my drowsy head. Why is the room so gloomy? Why aren't the birds singing? It must be cloudy. We may be in for a fierce downpour. I don't remember one from the weather forecast. I look at my clock. Well, it's time to get up anyway. First job, check outside and see if we're in for a storm. No! It's just greying up. The sky is overcast, but not because of bad weather.

It's just dark out!
No!
Yes!
Damn It! It's dark out.

I always go into shock. I don't know how this happens. Why doesn't this slowly creep up on me. You know. The shortening of the days. I have been noticing that is is black by 9 at night, but getting up in the dark is something I hate. I hate going to work in the morning and the sky is not yet awake. In Michigan I love the long summer days when twilight lingers until 10pm and a pink haze hovers over the lawn in the early morning when I rise. But as fall draws closer the days shrink into nothingness and I am going to work in the gray and coming home in the gray and the only light I see peeks through my office windows. I hate that!

But its happening. Again. And so also are the trees preparing for the change in time. Already along the roadsides are maples that have decided that organge is the proper attire and are really pushing the season. I like my fall full blown in October. But there are always those few eager trees that change early. I have picked up a vivid orange leaf from my lawn. I have stared at it in dismay instead of wonder.

I say I love the changing seasons. I say that the color of fall is one of my favorite times of year, but always when it begins I greive for the loss of summer. For the heading out the door with no concern for a sweater or coat. I mourn the fact that I must be ready for that first day when my car will be covered with frost and I will need to SCRAPE my windows before going to work. Love the fall, love the smell, love the look. But it's beauty has its harsh side. Like the wicked witch in Snow White. Cunning, gorgeous, harbringer of bad things to come.

Alas, Alas! I woke up this morning and it was dark outside. Hello Fall. I will welcome you when you come, but I hope you catch a late flight in.