Indian Summer

Here we are again with an Indian summer. An Indian summer is an unseasonably warm and dry period in spring or autumn (usually autumn). I recently did some research into where that term comes from, and it goes all the way back to the year 1851, mentioned in a letter, in French. It is possible that the usage came about due to the warm and hazy conditions in autumn during which the Native Americans would hunt.

Technically, we have five more days of actual summer, as the first day of autumn is the 22nd. But I predict an Indian summer, because these September days have been warmer than the whole of our summer put together. This happened last year too, with conditions fueling the wildfires that stretch across the state. Wildfire season started early this year, and, unfortunately, I think there are more fires than in years past. Thanks a lot, greenhouse gases.

I have written extensively about my love for autumn, and sadly, I don't think we're going to get much of one. It seems that in the Bay Area, we get one long spring during part of winter, spring and summer, a short summer in autumn and one brief autumn in winter. Three seasons, out of whack. And not enough rain.

I wish I could say I love the deep blue skies of September. I really don't. This morning we had some little cloud cover but it is quickly blowing away into nothing. It's true that the sky seems bluer in September than in other months. Well, except maybe February. I wonder what phenomenon causes that appearance. Or maybe it is an illusion. 

Today's tea is Himalayan White. It was rather bland this morning as it is a second steeping, left over from yesterday. Sometimes the Himalayan White does well with a second steeping, but not today. I'm trying to think of a good fall tea, and all I can think of is chai. I have a little chai left, maybe I'll use it to celebrate the first day of autumn. 

I checked the weather forecast, and it's nothing but sun for the next week. This is why I don't appreciate the blue skies- it's all we get, no variation. Today and tomorrow we are only partly cloudy, and then that's it for the next six days. I wish I had control of the weather. If I had my way, we'd be cloudy every day and rainy every other. Not a heavy rain, just a nice drizzle. Pitter, patter. Someday.