When I grow up

I am wearing a long-sleeved shirt today. Yes, I know it's going to be 81 degrees, but I am sick of my summer clothes and I am just ready to cover up as much of this body as I can. I am sure that I will get a few looks today, but I am ready for fall and I am ready to show it. I may even drag out the rest of my autumnal wear this evening in a show of support for my favorite season.

I knew I had become a bonafide adult when I had to start rotating my clothes annually. Each year I start this intricate and burdensome process of swapping out my summer clothes for fall/winter ones. When I was younger I didn't even have enough clothes to really worry about storage and such.

Another sign that I am officially among the aged is that V8 actually sounded good to me and I even purchased a six-pack of little cans to quench my craving. What's worse is that I packed one this morning to accompany my yogurt and granola bar. This was after I refilled my daily pill container with vitamins. Didn't my grandmother use one of those?

I have also taken to using not one, but two moisturizers. My grandmother used to slather up nightly and it paid off for her, so I am assuming that this beauty trick will work for her darling granddaughter as well.

I just noticed recently that I seem to have an inordinate number of tissues in my purse. My grandmother used to have wrinkled Kleenexes stuffed in each crevice of her multi-pocketed purse. She could yank them out at the first sign of a sniffle or sticky fingers.

I was browsing through a magazine recently and got caught up in an article about preparing and planting peonies. They might be a nice addition to our "garden". My grandmother had planted them all along the entry to her house and each time I see them, I am reminded of her.

I guess it's only natural to see yourself changing as you get older. Your habits become more habitual, your tastes change, you crave routine. . . I am going to fight it off for a while though. I am not ready to have a house dress or extra glasses. I don't think I want to tape an eye chart to the bathroom wall or eat Raisin Bran every day. I am just not ready.

I was tempted the other day to save the Cool Whip bowl by washing it and tucking it underneath the sink.

Thank goodness I stopped myself, someone might start comparing me to my grandmother.

The photo above was taken at Jackson's Orchard last weekend. Rows and rows of pumpkins greet you as you crest the hill. It's an amazing sight.