Ah, September is here

PRIME September 2012 By Jane D. O'Donoghue Special to PRIME According to Jane's calendar, September starts a new year. Think about it. This is when we hope that the weather cools down. It's when outdoor play is shortened because of early darkness. School children, if they'll admit it, are bored with summer and want to get back to meet new friends and see old ones again. Many actually want to learn new things, especially if a new school is in their future. As a youngster, I loved the season of apples, fresh doughnuts, cool apple cider, and football. In our house, the Red Sox radio games continued to blare excitement as the season reached decision time. There were no night games then, and a double header meant they played two games for the price of one. September can be fickle in what weather it presents. In fact, it is downright capricious. I remember long dry spells. This was especially so the year I received a beautiful green, polka dot, ruffled umbrella with a curved wooden handle. This was a gift in late August and I carried it daily, anticipating rain. It was a long wait of several weeks into September before I unfurled it. Another September, in 1938 to be exact, brought a devastating hurricane after days and days of heavy rain. At our house on Miller Street, my mother, my five siblings and I crouched under the round oak kitchen table as the fierce wind raged, and the windows rattled from the driving rain. My sister Ann left the safe spot and looked out a back window in time to see our two-car garage lifted up by the fury and thrown onto the ball field at Van Horn Park, where it shuttered and collapsed. Such is September. I was a student at Glenwood School then and extensive damage was done to the building by the storm. We were accommodated at Armory Street School until all repair work was completed. We celebrated when we returned, happy to be back at our own desks about six weeks later. This is the season of new clothes, whether for school or work. Young and old alike wore sweaters and woolens in deep rich colors, plaids in many fashions, and often knee socks to match. We squeezed our feet into shoes again after the freedom of a barefoot summer. September is the season for long walks, kicking leaves up as we go and observing the beautiful foliage. For teens, it also meant watching local football games, or rooting for the high school eleven: All this while checking out the latest heartthrobs. I miss the smell of burning leaves on our walks these days. These fragrant fires were controlled by homeowners, who found it a simple way to dispose of the raked up heaps. Today's politically correct and environmentally cleaner rules prohibit it. Sometimes I get a whiff from an outlaw burn and it is nostalgia time. As I've said, I go back a long way with lots of memories to share. September is and was the time for the Eastern States Exposition, which we called the "Ex." On the first Monday, schools were closed to allow us to attend the fair. There was no admission charge. We bused to the fair and enjoyed samples of food and goodies everywhere. Some exhibits haven't changed in all those years. The Coliseum presented shows and circuses for a fee, and there was a car racing show for admission also. We skipped those, and the rides, and just enjoyed the buildings, the free food samples, the animals, and for me, especially the horses. Eventually the "Ex" offered local towns the option of their own days at the fair to ease the crunch of youth. Today, September drivers are quickly alerted to yellow buses and walking students. Some adults free of daily child supervision for a few hours look around for personal enrichment and relaxation. This might include renewed interests in art, volunteering, bike riding or learning something new. Election fever is usually in full swing by then and takes on a life of its own. September, when all the fresher cooler air is a welcome relief, appetites become invigorated and cooks become ambitious. My favorite meal in the autumn was, and is, pot roast, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, squash and lots of rich gravy. If I'm lucky there also will be an apple pie to top it all off. Any offers and I'm there! Let's celebrate the month, a time of anticipation, change, renewal and surprises. Happy September! Jane D. O'Donoghue is a Hungry Hill native and retired school librarian. Her writing has appeared in local and regional publications.