Autumn is a gentle word, even genteel. It evokes images of firelight and golden sunsets. It's hues are warm and comforting, the color of pumpkins and the golds, reds, purples and oranges of the leaves. It feels like the knits and wool sweaters that I take from the shelves and start to wear, like the flannel sheets that I put on the bed. I love autumn.
Fall is abrupt. It is harsh and final. It sounds like breaking glass and feels like wet, stinging wind.
We've had autumn for about a month now and it has been glorious. We had fall this week. It did some damage to our trees but not our property. It did this kind of damage all over town and many people were not as lucky as we were. Some people couldn't get out of their homes. Some people were without power for a day or two (unheard of here). Some people couldn't get their cars out from under the broken limbs. Some people will have to get new cars.
Fortunately, fall is on it's way out and autumn is returning today with the sun and bright blue sky. I don't know the etymology of the word fall. I think it's an American thing. I could look it up, but I prefer to imagine it's origins. It's one of the things I like about the English language: all these words. Marrying a South African and living in Europe has given me so many more words, fun and funny words.
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