See What Happens in Colossal Fall — Sensational Opportunities

DEP Fall Contest

Description English: Autumn. Author Unknown author. This file is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maple_Trees_by_Creek.jpg

Thanks go to DEP Dr. Gabriella Korosi and DR Rawson - The Possibilist, for the opportunity to submit an article for consideration in the Fall Contest. Dr. Korosi announced this contest in her article https://readmedium.com/dancing-elephants-press-fall-2023-contest-articles-e4349a0c50e9. The writing prompt provided is “What does fall mean to you?

Fall

Autumn, also called fall, marks the transition from summer to winter. The duration of the daylight hours becomes shorter, and temperatures cool. There is a noticeable color change in the leaves of deciduous trees as they prepare to shed and fall to the ground.

I look forward to them falling so I can spend more time outdoors raking and picking them up. Popular culture in the United States associates Labor Day with the beginning of the fall season, and winter solstice marks the end.

Description Tender, juicy roast turkey — the main attraction — with old-fashioned gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, baked green beans, sweet and sour cod, steamed rice, Achara (pickled green papaya relish), leche flan, pigs in a blanket, apple crisp (from Yucaipa!), punch and 365 (that’s a brand name) soda from Whole Foods. Author Ms. Jones from California, USA. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Our_(Almost_Traditional)_Thanksgiving_Dinner.jpg

Food and Fun

I love to eat good food, so I think of the Thanksgiving holiday. Also, the good times of coming together as an extended family. For me, it was once the time of year when everyone would put their day-to-day lives aside and meet at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. They are gone now, and these events no longer happen, but I do have fond memories of when they did.

People would come from near and far to appear and “catch up.” Cousins spent time together playing games and talking about anything under the sun. The adults, meanwhile, would sit and enjoy themselves by reminiscing about how the year had gone for them.

Grandma, Mom, and my aunts would serve plenty of great food. It was a feast fit for a King! I think of Grandma’s delicious pies and homemade bread; those were my favorites, none better! I remember the delicious aroma that they exuded, fresh baked bread and pies are still my favorites.

Scary

Another fall event that occurs is Halloween. I think of pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes, and candied apples. People dress up and decorate their homes and yards with scary decorative items.

Description English: Pumpkins for sale during Halloween. Author Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine. This file is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HalloweenPumpkin2.jpg

Description Visitors enjoy a hayride at Natural Tunnel State Park. Author Virginia State Parks staff. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. File: NT Hayride (6358393397).jpg — Wikimedia Commons

Description **English:** A view from inside a corn maze near Christchurch, New Zealand. AuthorHugho226. This file is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. File: Inside a corn maze near Christchurch, New Zealand.JPG — Wikimedia Commons

Description A Tastee-brand candy apple. This is an apple coated in red caramel and covered in chopped peanuts. Bought from an American grocery store during the fall. AuthorEvan-Amos. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. File: Tastee-Candy-Apple-Red-Caramel-wPeanuts.jpg — Wikipedia

Description English: Halloween Witch. Author Anthony22 (talk). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halloween_Witch_2011.JPG

Tricks or Treats

It is also the time for trick or treating. The kids love the sweets they can score by going on the fright night. Haunted houses were always available and would scare the daylight out of you.

Football

American football is a sport that gets our attention during the fall. The high school, collegiate, and pro games are all vying for our attention. That said, many summer sports end at the beginning or late fall.

Description Navy slotback Shun White, #26, scores Navy’s first touchdown on a 26-yard run in the second quarter. Navy lost 24–23 against the University of Tulsa’s Golden Hurricanes in the first overtime game in Academy history. Author Christopher A. Lussier. This file is the work of a sailor or employee of the US Navy, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the US federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2006_Navy_-_Tusla.jpg

Other Sports

Soccer, stock car racing, tennis, golf, cricket, and pro baseball wrap up their seasons. Pro-winter sports like ice hockey and basketball are at the start of their seasons.

Take A Drive

One of my favorite activities is driving when the color of the tree leaves changes. In this respect, two trips that I love are Skyline Drive and the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway. If you have never been on these drives, you owe it to yourself to make a point of doing it.

The Skyline Drive is a 105-mile National Parkway that runs the entire length of the Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia along the ridge of the mountains. This park has campgrounds, visitor centers, and resorts. It is trendy in the fall for leaf peeping when the leaves change colors.

Description English: View from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA. Author Steevven1. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_View_from_Skyline_Drive_in_Shenandoah_National_Park.jpg

Description Author Shenandoah National Park from Virginia. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mini_Falls..._(21872780253).jpg

Description English: View from Pinnacles Overlook on Skyline Drive, Summer 2007. Photo by W.Grotophorst. The author’s original uploader was Wallygva at en. Wikipedia. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinnacles_2.jpg

The Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway is in Fremont and Teller counties, Colorado. The Byway got its name because of this area being the Gold Belt mining region. The Cripple Creek Historic District is a National Historic Landmark.

Description Downtown Cripple Creek, Colorado. Author Bureau of Land Management. This image is the work of a Bureau of Land Management employee, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the US federal government, the image is in the public domain in the United States. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DowntownCrippleCreekColorado.jpg

Description Cripple Creek and Victor NGRR Heading uphill from Cripple Creek, Colorado, on narrow gauge tracks only 2 feet wide. The engine is a 1936 model built in Germany. Author Don O’Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cripple_Creek_and_Victor_N.G.R.R.jpg

Description Pike’s Peak in Colorado, USA. Author David Shankbone (1974–). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pikes_Peak_by_David_Shankbone.jpg

The events in this article are but just a sampling of what is available for you to consider this fall season. We are certain that without trying to hard there are bound to be some interesting, fun, enjoyable events that you can do and share with others.

This article is at its end. We hope you enjoyed reading it and invite you to consider taking advantage of opportunities that make your life memorable and bless you. Each season can and should be important enough for us to stop and be thankful for our experiences. I hope I have provided some interesting ideas for you to consider this fall season.

Please join my email list. When I write something new, the system will notify you.

I would love to give a Big Shout Out to Christina Daniels for the poem she wrote at https://readmedium.com/a-hint-of-autumn-72eb4e475500. This poem allows the reader to think about the fall season we are going through now. Great job on this poem, Christina!

I would love to give a Big Shout Out to Elvie Lins for the article https://readmedium.com/smiling-is-the-best-way-to-show-your-happiness-love-and-appreciation-for-life-e0a251ce58a9. She wrote about smiling and the benefits it brings. I loved reading this, and it put a smile on my face and made me feel better. Great job on this article, Elvie!