Happy First Day of Fall, Y’all
Well, here we are. The first day of fall.
And if you live in Texas, you already know there is a little problem with that statement.
It does not exactly feel like fall.
The calendar says autumn, but somebody forgot to tell the Texas weather department. Around here, we can celebrate the first day of fall while still sweating through our clothes walking to the mailbox.
But honestly?
I don’t care.
The pumpkins are coming out.
The Halloween decorations are coming out.
And if I want to sit in my air-conditioned house surrounded by ghosts, pumpkins, black cats, and orange lights while it’s still hot enough to fry an egg on the driveway, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Fall in Texas Doesn’t Follow the Rules
There is something funny about being a Texas girl during the first few weeks of fall.
In other parts of the country, people are pulling on sweaters, grabbing their favorite boots, and watching the leaves change.
Here?
We’re still cranking up the air conditioner.
We might be wearing shorts while decorating for Halloween. We might be drinking an iced tea while putting out fall candles. We might have pumpkins sitting on the porch while the thermometer is still acting completely unreasonable.
And you know what?
That’s just Texas fall.
We don’t wait for cooler weather to give ourselves permission to enjoy the season.
If the calendar says September, I’m ready.
I’m Pulling Out the Halloween Decorations Anyway
I’ve never been particularly good at waiting for the “right” time to decorate.
Once fall hits the calendar, my brain immediately jumps straight to Halloween.
Give me the pumpkins.
Give me the ghosts.
Give me the black cats.
Give me the spooky little signs and orange lights.
I’ll worry about whether it’s actually cold enough for a sweater later.
There is just something about getting those decorations out that makes the house feel different. Even if I’m still walking outside into 90-degree heat, I can come back inside to a house that feels like October.
And around here, sometimes you have to create your own fall atmosphere.
Texas Fall Is Its Own Kind of Beautiful
Of course, fall in Texas has plenty to offer once we finally get past the heat.
Eventually, the evenings start getting a little more comfortable. The sunlight changes. Football season is in full swing. The smell of barbecue seems even better somehow.
Then there are those perfect Texas fall days when you can finally sit outside without immediately wondering why you voluntarily moved outdoors.
Those are the days I wait for.
A little breeze.
A cool drink.
Maybe a fire in the evening.
A porch decorated with pumpkins.
And, if I’m lucky, a temperature that doesn’t make me question every life decision that led me outside.
My Kind of Fall Starts With Halloween
I’ve always loved the whole fall season, but Halloween has a special place in my heart.
Maybe it’s because it kicks off my favorite stretch of the year.
Once the Halloween decorations come out, I know what’s coming next. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, followed by Christmas, and suddenly we’re wondering how the year disappeared so quickly.
But today?
Today is for fall.
Today is for pumpkins.
Today is for Halloween decorations that probably have absolutely no business being outside in this Texas heat.
And I’m perfectly okay with that.
So Happy First Day of Fall From Texas
If you’re somewhere enjoying crisp mornings and colorful leaves today, I’m a little jealous.
Meanwhile, I’ll be here in Texas with the air conditioner running, probably wearing shorts, decorating pumpkins, and pretending I don’t know what the thermometer says.
Because fall doesn’t have to feel like fall for me to enjoy it.
Sometimes you just have to turn down the AC, light a fall-scented candle, put out the Halloween decorations, and decide that autumn has officially arrived.
The calendar says it’s fall.
That’s good enough for me.
Happy First Day of Fall, y’all. 🎃🍂👻
And yes, I’m already pulling out the Halloween decorations.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and sixteen grandchildren.