Paradis: Fair weather

We pulled the throw blankets out of the storage ottoman and sat on the porch swing the other night. We probably didn't need the blankets, but it felt good to be that mix of chilly and warm after so many hot evenings. The sky was bright with stars and big puffy clouds that drifted across quickly, creating shapes that we mostly agreed were a dog's head, a baby's face, and possibly the Grinch before the wind dissolved them into new formations. Autumn is my favorite season. Even though I haven't had to head out to a first day of school in almost 40 years now, this weekend in particular always feels like the beginning of something new. Growing up in Minnesota, school didn't start until after Labor Day, part of an effort to stretch the summer tourist season in a state that knows how to appreciate getting outside when you can because winter is just around the corner.