Fall is
apple cider, pumpkin carving, costumed madness, and sweaters. I expected to
leave fall far behind, along with all other defined seasons, as I packed my
bags for a year here in Tucson. There is nothing here to fall. Cacti do not
shed flares of bright, warm colored leaves. Mesquite does not litter the
sidewalk with a rainbow of red, orange, or yellow bits that provide a
satisfying crunch under your boots as you walk. But hey, I’m from Georgia, what
do I really know from fall?
Fall is a feeling. It is more than a
change in the weather; it is a season that works its way into your body and
spirit.
Thursday,
October 25th, was a perfect fall day; the whisper of a cold breeze,
the crisp clean scent of winter just around the corner, and a festival to
welcome in the season. Mercado San Agustin provided the backdrop. Local vendors
provided the fruits of their harvests: pumpkins, apples, sweet potatoes, winter
squash, honey, herbs, and homemade goods. The smell of a winter stew lingered
in the air as a crowd gathered in the square to hear the students from Roskruge
Bilingual school play mariachi. Children laughed, played, and gathered around a
craft table to decorate pumpkins and have their faces painted.
This season
brings people together. Anticipating Thanksgiving, gearing up for holidays
spent with family and friends, Fall is a time for folks to come together and
celebrate. That Thursday, during our Farmers’ Market, I felt the Tucson
community all around me. I found myself in the middle of this wonderfully diverse
community, with a smile on my face, knowing that the work we do provides time
and space for celebration of families, food, and the community we live in. And,
I don’t miss the leaves one bit.
