The Spark

This time of year is very uplifting to me.

Around the first week or so of October, the Spark is in the air where I live.  I can't tell you exactly what the Spark is, but it is an energizing scent that marks the arrival of autumn.  I can always tell the exact date it occurs, just from the smell, and my soul sings for joy.

• 2008:  Oct 4
• 2009:  Oct 7
• 2010:  Oct 8
• 2011:  Well, I missed recording it that year, it was a heck of an October.
• 2012:  Oct 21 
• 2013:  Oct 3

It is the smell of heat-dried grassy weeds being moistened by dew.  The smell of crinkly Japanese maple leaves rubbed between your fingers and the deep sigh of earth.  The smell of magic waking up and taking flight.  The smell of nature giving you a warm welcoming hug.
 
Ryan and I intentionally picked a wedding date that was soon after the average Spark date so that our anniversary would be associated with our favorite and most spiritual-feeling time of year.  It makes me feel like this:

*squee!*

This time of year, from late September through early December, is also a time of change for me.  I always either lose a fair amount of weight, or something extremely significant and life-changing (good or bad) happens.  Wonder which it will be this time...

(Edit:  Ryan claims the spark on this year was false, since it disappeared the next day.  It hit permanently on Oct 11.  But for me it is the FIRST spark that counts, so I'm keeping my date as Oct. 3rd.)

Do you ever notice the Spark?  Has it hit your area yet?