I'm not sure if I'm ready for this

The chill of winter settled into the wind last night, and arctic blast that swirled its way to lowly Illinois. I heard it snowed in Chicago, heard rumors of flurries on the quad around noon but I was in class and missed it. What I didn't miss was the characteristic taunting so-blue sky and fluffy clouds, seeming to promise a day of delightful outdoor recreation stymied by cold hands and toes and a cutting wind that gusted around corners. Fall weather in the midwest. I am tempted to make pumpkin bread, steep spices in warm cider, bake a pie, crunch leaves on the sidewalks. I wonder when the fall rains will turn to early winter snows (for real, not just dancing flakes) and I'll skid carefully down sidewalks on my way to classes. I can never decide if I like the cold weather or not - the delight of snow never seems to leave me (see post #2) - and yet I miss the easy freedom of a tshirt and skirt, the comfort of sandals, fresh apricots at the farmer's market. I suppose I'll have a while longer to think while the fronts clash in the atmosphere and battle for the highs and lows of the day. The good thing about winter, as I explained to my newest ex-California colleague, is that you can always put on more clothes.