Falling into Fall

 


As the leaves start to change, I've found myself reflecting on the concept of change itself.  Life is a turbulent series of constantly moving targets.  As we overcome our current challenges, we can often start to see future hurdles on the horizon.  We, as humans, must adapt to survive.  Charles Darwin has said it before - the world works through 'survival of the fittest', but lately I've felt the weight of this sentiment more.  

With the pandemic still looming as we approach yet another season change, I question if there is a 'normal' anymore.  Some say that social distancing and mask wearing IS the new normal, but I don't want to believe that.  I want to believe that this disruptive time period will eventually end.  I want to stay optimistic that we can all get through this.

Fall is probably my second favorite season, after Summer.  I love so many of the activities and celebrations that come during this time and I am determined to focus on maintaining as many traditions as possible.  Last weekend, I went apple picking at Connors Farm and I highly recommend this, especially for anyone with kids.  My friends and I only just picked apples, but there was a whole outdoor family fun area complete with a corn maze, train rides and food trucks.  We all wore masks while we were picking apples as did everyone else who was there.  While the mask part of the adventure wasn't ideal, I was grateful that I was still able to partake in this fall activity.  I made Ina Garden's apple crisp after getting home and let me tell you, that thing is decadent!  We ended up making two 13x9 inch pans of the stuff so that each person could take some home to enjoy.  The sweet cinnamon crunch top with the soft apples always gets me feeling cozy.

Halloween is another part of Fall that I absolutely love.  This year the event might look at bit different... I'm honestly not too sure what to expect.  I would normally have a costume party at my house with lots of my friends, but obviously this is not a smart time to be hosting such an event.  I still want to dress up, I still want to get trick or treaters and I still want to eat Halloween-themed goodies.  I'm not sure how it will go this year, but I'm going to try my best to soak up all the Halloween energy that I can.  I will most definitely be carving pumpkins for my front porch and roasting the pumpkin seeds for snacking.  I might also make a cookie haunted house that I recently saw was being sold at Target.

Thanksgiving is another Fall holiday that I don't have clear details on yet.  Normally, I would go to Florida to be with my family.  But flying is something that many people are still avoiding and I'm not sure that I want to fly if I can avoid it.  My brother and his fiancé (They got engaged recently and I couldn't be happier!) are in Florida currently and my parents would fly from NJ to FL for the holiday.    Going to see them for Thanksgiving would be lovely, plus the warmer weather of Florida would be a welcome change from the northeastern chill.  And yet, I still don't know what the plan is.  Being flexible is THE THING during this time.

As far as change goes, I've had to change my ideas of what work will look like for me right now.  I have started nannying 30 hours a week for 3 kindergarteners.  I did not plan for this, nor did I expect to be a nanny after getting a masters degree, but these are the cards that I've been dealt at this time.  I am still job searching to try and fight my *rightful* place in the workplace wellness industry, but I feel that many companies may not hire for these roles until there is more of an idea of when or if employees will be going back to their offices.  As for the kiddos, they are adorable and sweet!  They have just started school this week, all virtually, with the hopes that they might move to some hybrid structure later in October.  As the three of them each sit with a laptop in front of them and headphones on for a segment of learning, I too sit with my computer.

I can't even imagine being a small child trying to go to school during this time.  These three kids are all together in a pod because their parents are friends and the kids were all starting at the same school this year.  At least this way, they get a small amount of socialization that isn't entirely online.  I was a crazy outgoing kid and I think I would have been an absolute devil if you tried to get me to sit at a computer for an entire school day.  They are honestly being such good sports.

As things change, we must adapt with them.

-Vicky

 

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