Northern Hypocrisy

Some say that it is hypocrisy for a transplanted Northerner to complain about heat in the South. "ya knew it was hot before ya come down here and you was tryin' to git away from the cold so whatchoo cryin' bout?"

At the moment, I'm cryin' about the Fall, probably the saddest time for anyone who cherishes "Autumn in New York". I don't think anybody's contemplating a song entitled "Fall in Raleigh".  But hey, yeah, we did trade the loss of Fall for the elimination of winter. All change requires loss and all loss requires mourning...so pardon my sentimentality and yearning for yellow, brown, purple, magenta and most of all the gold of those Autun trails. All of those colors temporarily prevail in my hometown, Rochester, New York before they disappear into the darkness and the doom of November. Autumn in upstate New York is our glorious reward for dealing with the miserable climate we endure the rest of the year. We cherish that reward. We find new love and enrich enduring love. 

Perhaps, I'm misjudging the South but I can only judge by my experience. Although "Fall" began a few days ago, we're still in the 90's. We've already had 74 days in the 90"s this year. It's twice as many as 90's days than North Carolina normally experiences. Whatever the "color" of heat is, I don't like it.

Everything around here looks exhausted. We haven't had much rain and the aridity along with the humidity is forcing me to stay indoors. Everyime I go for a walk in the oven outdoors, I can't wait to get back indoors. When I step in the door and feel that aircon, I always say "And that's what I like about the South"...whatever the color of aircon.

Yes, I used to have a similar but opposite reaction when walking outside in Rochester in January and coming into the warmth of the house. Yeah, there are tradeoffs yet at some point in the evaluation of every trade we get a sense of what we gave up to get what we have gained. I gave up the Yankees, the Mets and the Red Wings for the Charlotte Knights. I gave up the Knicks for the Hornets and the Jets, Bills and Giants for the Panthers. Most heartbreakingly of all, I gave up the colors of "Autum in New York for the exhausted drab of North Carolina in whatever this is. I gave up shadows for brutal brightness.

If it sounds like I'm crying in my beer, it's because I literally am and the Bud is ice cold. 

Momentarilly, I'm in Ellison Park walking past the leaf covered cabin along with all the other folks just walkin' and talkin' and breathin'  New York.

I think I'm gonna grab another beer.

And maybe a couple more after that.