Autumn Weather

As the evenings begin to come earlier, the darkness of night slowly takes over the city, and the chilly air gently starts to be felt, it’s clear autumn has begun. It seems almost as if it happened overnight: it was still summer, and then out of nowhere we’re cuddled up on the couch under a blanket, hot cups of tea replacing the ice-cold Aperol Spritzes of the summer.

Don’t get me wrong, I love fall – watching everything turn golden orange, the smell of pumpkin spice everywhere you go, and the warmer clothes which shield you from the elements on your morning commute. I’m here for every bit of it: the changing aroma of the world, the evenings with our favorite TV shows, and the fact that Cosmo once again wants to cuddle. Before we know it, Spotify Wrapped will drop, Christmas will be around the corner (Mariah Carey awakening from her 11-month coma), and another year will come to a close. It’s scary how fast time flies. I know it’s cliché, but it’s true. With every passing year, the time just runs faster and faster. Time passing and taking time to appreciate the now is the subject of this post.

In October 2019, I deboarded the plane in Krakow and took a deep breath in. After years in Cyprus, I missed the “real” autumn. The colors, the smells, the nature, and everything that comes with it. We still had them in Cyprus, but they were much more muted, mostly seen in the lack of people out and about and strong winds picking up.

We met with Natalia at Błonie, a large green space in the heart of Krakow. I arrived a little earlier than her and had a few minutes to stroll around and take in the beauty of everything. I vividly recall that moment: the sounds of the wet leaves, that cooler – but still comfortable – air, and the sun as it was slowly setting, dipping the already orange trees and pathways into a beautiful golden tint. “I have to come back next year to really enjoy autumn and appreciate the moment,” I thought to myself, being sure that next year would be THE year where I could do that. It had been a long while since I had anything even remotely close to “me time.” TCG was coming off fresh from an intense summer and peak activity, Batman was ill and in the final weeks of his life, and I was juggling the responsibilities of life and the beauty (and time commitment) of a new relationship. I thought that the following year, I’d be able to take 2-3 days to just relax and be in the moment. As it later turned out, this wasn’t the first time I had that thought. I found old journals from 2015-2018, and nearly every year held the same thought – next year. 2019 was no different after all.

Then came 2020, and everything changed. Travel became all but impossible except for essential trips, and even then, getting to Poland took a 3-hour flight, 3 tests, and a 6-hour drive. With restrictions eased in the summer, by October Cyprus went into complete lockdown once more, with curfews in place and cities on lockdown as well. “Next year,” I thought.

2021 was not much different. While we had the most magical time with Natalia in NYC for the race, this was wintertime already, with the tree coming up at Rockefeller Plaza, Waffles and Dinges steaming in the cold, and winter markets sprinkled throughout the city.

In 2022, we finally moved out of Cyprus, leaving behind the toxic environment that “home” had become towards the end. We had our own oasis of calm in our apartment; the tea was hot, and the bed comfortable. This was the first year where I finally succeeded in taking some time to appreciate fall. It wasn’t days as I originally imagined, but it was a few minutes every other day, sitting in the park in front of the office. Phone off, headphones in, and a hot tea in the thermos – those were wonderful peaceful moments of re-connecting with nature. With a new-found lease on life after the first episode of Depersonalization and Derealization, I was still far from good but really appreciated these moments. I look back at them fondly and smile even now as I write this.

In 2023, we moved to Milan in October. That was an adventure all of its own, with the first few days being stranded without electricity, and then the next spent unpacking everything from the move. Before I really had a chance to realize and take in fall, it was starting to become dark and grey winter. There were a few days spent wandering around Milan and sitting on my favorite bench in the Fairytale park just outside our apartment, but autumn kind of slipped through my fingers.

Now in 2024, we just came out of the most challenging and demanding few weeks we’ve had. Between Startup Mode for PetExpo 2024 (video coming soon) and our move, it’s been far from an easy and calm summer.

I look forward to the fall weather, and more than anything, I look forward to autumn in Poland. There won’t be any “off days” for sure, but I’m already planning time to reconnect with nature and disconnect from the craziness of our digital life. The tea cabinet is stocked, the warm sweaters are ready, and the Fall playlist is being created now. I’m excited; let the sweater weather begin.