October Country

It's October 1, and the wind is lashing rain against my window. The low temperature tonight is 30 degrees. It's as if Nature woke up and decided, "They're gonna know it's October today." Yesterday I perspired walking up a hill in shirt-sleeves--today I shivered in a sweater. October likes to make an entrance.

Today I went to the Fin and Feather store. It sells sporting goods and sturdy clothing. I went mainly because I'd never been there. Hunters wearing boots walked around discussing guns. I looked at some nice North Face jackets and hats, but the jackets cost a hundred dollars and the hats cost twenty-five. Too much. So I went to Hollywood Video instead and bought three DVDs for twenty-five bucks. Much better deal.

The University of Iowa homecoming parade hit the streets today. The rain hit the streets as well. As far as parades go, it was pretty lame, but people lined the route anyway. They waited for the candy-tossers. The Vote for Kerry crowd made up the largest chunk of the parade--they kept coming forever. I liked the fraternity float with a guy wearing only bib overalls yelling, "Na na na na. LET'S GO IOWA! Na na na na. LET'S GO IOWA!" The rain smacked his face, but he just kept shouting. He was either very spirited or very drunk. Probably he was both.

October is my favorite month, possibly because my birthday is in it. But I like the beginning of fall. I like the rain and wind and leaves. I'm always ready for a dark and stormy night. There's nothing like the feeling of driving home in dark rain with the red glow of the stoplights shining in a puddle on the street. You pull into the garage, jump out of the car, open the door and you're home. You flick on all the lights and absorb the dry warmth, maybe have some chicken casserole. Or maybe that's just me. (But you should try it with Stove Top Stuffing.)