Yes there are the obvious signs that autumn is upon us. Leaves changing colors, pumpkins (and pumpkin-flavored goodness) everywhere, Halloween costumes in stores windows, and people are bundled up outside.
But, to me, there are two real signs that the seasons are changing in NYC.
1. I saw the Central Park raccoon this evening. I swear this raccoon is about 40 lbs and 3 feet tall. It is a monster raccoon and not nearly scared enough of human beings. I saw him a few times last year and he scared the bejeesus out of me. I only see him in the fall and winter at dusk, never in other seasons. Tonight I nearly busted a knee cap screeching to a halt so that he could saunter across my path, oblivious to my absolute terror (I fear wild animals who are partially domesticated by city life).
2. It is 97 degrees in my apartment. For those of you who don’t live in NYC, let me explain. In most apartment buildings you don’t pay for your heat, but you also don’t control when it is turned on and how high it is turned on – building management and/or the super controls this. I’ve heard the reason for this is that back 100+years ago, buildings use to crank up the heat in the winter to force tenants to open their windows and air out their apartments so people wouldn’t be breathing in germ-infested air. This was especially important in poorer neighborhoods where people lived in close quarters and diseases spread like wild fire.
It is no longer so important now that we have modern medicine and don’t live in tenements. I used my a/c all winter last year to beat the heat. (I had to do that even though I slept in shorts and a tank top under only a thin sheet). It’s too damn hot in here!!!
Ah, what lovely signs of fall. Now, monster raccoons in sweltering apartments are going to haunt my dreams.
Yes, fall for sure. By the way, there are many monster raccoons in Central Park!
Regarding heat, at least in my place, it is either feast or famine.
Happy running!