Autumn Days: Embracing My Favorite Season
Image Courtesy of Scott Anthony
By Francesca Jonica Moore
This is an independently submitted op-ed for our Quill section. Views and statements made in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Tower.
What is your favorite season of the year? Do you revel in the blossoming hope of spring, where flowers bloom and the world feels fresh with possibility? Or do you prefer the blazing heat of summer, with its endless sunny days and carefree moments by the water? Perhaps you love the magical snow of winter, as it drapes the world in a pristine, white blanket. Is it the changing hues of nature that capture your heart, or the shift in weather that you cherish most?
For me, autumn stands above the rest. There’s something enchanting about the way the leaves, in shades of amber, crimson, and gold, flutter to the ground like a natural confetti, ushering in the cooler weather. As the air turns crisp and refreshing, it feels like the world is exhaling, slowing down from the frenetic pace of summer. Autumn whispers nostalgia and warmth into the soul. It’s the season where memories of jumping into small leaf piles with siblings rush back, along with the thrill of telling ghost stories during Halloween, all while gathering around campfires that crackle under the night sky.
Growing up in St. Clairsville, autumn was a season that drew everyone outdoors. The crisp air and vibrant leaves beckoned, even as the evening chill hinted at the coming snow. It was a time to embrace the fleeting warmth and the beauty of fall.
One of my favorite memories from those autumn days was when my sister, Desiree, and I decided to sleep outside under the stars. We hadn’t been camping since the middle of summer and missed the feeling of being outdoors. Our land was too uneven for a tent, so we dragged our blankets out to the back porch instead. Our brother chickened out, leaving just the two of us to whisper and laugh under the night sky until sleep finally overtook us. The air was crisp, the sky endless, and the feeling of being wrapped up in autumn’s cool embrace was unforgettable.
Fall also brings out creativity in ways that other seasons simply can’t. Pumpkin carving became an annual tradition, each year trying to outdo the previous one with the scariest or funniest faces we could manage. Sometimes, we’d take it a step further and visit the famous Kenova’s Pumpkin House, a local treasure that displayed hundreds of intricately carved pumpkins. The Pumpkin House has become a tradition in our family and, in recent years, I’ve even gone with friends from Marshall University’s Cru. I’ll never forget the year we went after it had rained all day—the grass was still slick and muddy. That laughter, shared on a cool autumn night, is what makes the season so memorable.
But perhaps what makes fall the most special to me is the way it brings me back home, even when I’ve been away for most of the year. Thanksgiving break has always marked a time of reunion, of coming together as a family. Unlike many families, we didn’t rush into the festivities early in the morning. Instead, we’d begin our day at Mass, often serving as acolytes, with my parents volunteering as Extraordinary Ministers. My dad, who worked the night shift at Walmart, would often be exhausted, but he’d stay up all day just to be with us, making those moments even more precious. After Mass, we’d turn on the Thanksgiving parade, not as the centerpiece of the day, but as background noise while we tried—and often failed—to help in the kitchen. My siblings and I would eventually get shooed out, leading us to play board games and pass the time until dinner.
The warmth that autumn carries extends beyond just the physical. It’s a season of bonding, where time seems to slow down, and family and friends come together in a way that feels different from the hustle and bustle of summer or the busy celebrations of winter. There’s a simplicity to it—a quiet joy that is found in small moments, like sipping hot chocolate on a brisk evening, watching the sunset earlier and earlier, and feeling the world around you settle into its seasonal rhythm.
And yet, autumn’s charm lies in contrast to winter’s harsher touch. Just the other day, my siblings and I were reminiscing about how winter could never quite measure up to the beauty of fall. We laughed, remembering how our brother—bless him—once put far too much lighter fluid in the pellet stove, causing the house to fill with smoke. Let’s just say, we were all grateful that we never needed that pellet stove in the fall. The coziness of autumn simply doesn’t need anything extra to make it perfect.
As the leaves change and the days grow shorter, I find myself looking forward to those cozy evenings, the comforting warmth of family, and the memories we’ll continue to make. Autumn, with its vibrant colors, gentle coolness, and unmistakable sense of nostalgia, will always hold the key to my heart. It’s more than just a season—it’s a feeling, a collection of moments that remind me of home. That’s why, no matter what the year brings, fall will always be my favorite.
