Blog & Vlog

The Smell of Fall

By Sallie Hussey on September 8, 2010

Growing up in north Mississippi, we really had two seasons – summer and more summer.  That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I remember it rarely got cold enough to wear a big winter coat.  I do remember being really excited for fall and football and school clothes.  I also remember my Dad trying to determine the arrival of fall every year by the smell.  He’d stand outside early in the morning and say, “Sal, don’t you smell that? It’s coming soon.” In junior high I had absolutely no idea what he meant.  Now, I understand.

Fall does have a unique smell to it.  To me it’s a mixture of grass, fire wood, school bus fumes, leather, the state fair, football game concession-stand food, and Aquanet hairspray.  But it’s also the smell of change.  Growing up, fall brought with it the change from days at the lake and late curfews to early mornings and homework.

Here, fall signals the change of the new fiscal year, the start of the After School program, and planning for next year’s WellFEST, just for starters.  We have new board members and new volunteers, and we are trying some bold new things in the Youth Center.  I haven’t actually smelled fall yet, but I can smell change around the office.  Come join the fun and see what’s happening. 

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