Oh October, how I love thee.

You with your colorful leaves swirling in the air, crispy underfoot, mowed into shreds by my husband every other week or so.

Your cider, warm and cloyingly sweet, your pumpkin spice lattes made just right by Starbucks. And even though they come from a powder mix, I am enamored by them.

Your cold winds see me running for the boxes of winter clothes. I am reminded of the plaid jacket I gave away, that would be perfect for this one time I visit the pumpkin patch each year. Alas, ’tis not meant to be. My daughter greets your chilly morns with furry ear muffs and furry slippers. Fur, in general, becomes a welcome friend this month.

Your foods, hearty and filling, high on cheese and potatoes and meats galore. We long for nights of hot chili and warm, cinnamon-oozing rolls. And while my friends think that is a Nebraska thing, I who have resided in Oregon and ate the very same thing know it is not. Maybe it’s just your thing, October, oh cooler month that turns appetites from garden-fresh salads to mom’s favorite casseroles.

Your nights, frosty and terrifying for summer’s still-blooming flowerpots, encourage us to jump under covers, to stay warm, to dream deeply, to not get out of bed in the morning lest our toes touch the cold hardwood floors.

Oh October, I find thee so charming. You are the adorable and fresh gateway to new seasons; the antidote to the dreary and tiresome end-of-winter months that receive my disdain. Too bad you’ll be gone in 31 days.