Autumn in New York

Autumn in New York

Autumn in New York should be gorgeous, which is nice because that’s where I’ll be spending it this year. You are probably almost as surprised as I was to discover this. Then again, we are past the time of shock and surprise. We’re now in the era of everything changes faster than we can process. And as of Sunday, I am in Clinton, New York for the next month or three.

In keeping with the theme of 2020, my life has taken another unexpected turn. After a week back at work we were told that UPenn would be going to all online learning and the on-campus population would be about one-tenth of the number we usually serve. Layoffs were coming.

Off to college

Facing another stretch of being unemployed filled me with anxiety. Then we heard that another account,  Hamilton College needed help, and if we were willing to relocate for as long as they needed us we could continue working. And by the way, could we leave tomorrow?

Um, no.

Can I leave in a week?

Yes.

OK. I’ll figure it out.

I packed for what is essentially a semester at college and August 30th made the trip here. The drive through central New York was beautiful and I delighted in watching the thermostat on my car drop as I made my way north. There are six of us who traveled here from Philadelphia to help a diminished staff at Hamilton College.  A few got here last week, and are already working. Two of us who just arrived have to wait for the results of our first COVID tests before we can start working on campus.

Change of venue

The week preceding my move here was stressful, I frantically tried to pack and make arrangements to care for my house and cats. But now that I’m here I’ve finally exhaled. We are staying at an extended stay type location, and I have a sweet little studio complete with a bed, couch, work/eating area, and a kitchen. There is even a pool. 

At the moment I’m still feeling a bit disoriented as if I’ve traveled through several time zones rather than made a mere 275 mile trip, going from urban to bucolic setting. We’re not far from Utica, and a little farther from Stamford, NY where I once lived and ran the Hungry Moon Diner, the place I owned while I lived there. It all feels familiar and green, and soon the place will be ablaze with the brilliant colors of fall. 

The most beautiful season of all

If I have to spend a season here, I am grateful for it to be this one. Fall should be gorgeous this year. Fall is the time of year I always seem to miss in the city. I always feel too busy to notice the few trees I encounter. Here I will be surrounded by endless meadows changing from summer to fall wildflowers and be up close to thousands of trees as their leaves revert to their natural colors, the scarlet of the maples, the orange of the oaks, the bright red of the dogwoods… 

I love the slant of the sun in autumn and the silver-grey clouds that form a low dome and catch the sunlight beneath them. The air is fresher and brighter. On my way here I passed farms with huge pumpkins ready to be sold and carved. Already the nights are cooler, and I don’t miss the oppressive humidity of early September in Philadelphia. I am grateful to be working and happy to spend autumn in New York, a place rich with the beauty of the coming my favorite season.