Beginning of Fall

Tomorrow is the Autumnal Equinox, when night and day are approximately the same length. The first leaves in the neighborhood are starting to change, and over the past few nights the air has had a cold edge.

Ben, who is usually in bed by 7:30 at the latest, has been enthralled by the concept of darkness. A few days ago, we were getting him ready for bed a little late, and he was amazed to realize it was dark outside. He asked to go out, and we let him walk around for a few minutes in his pajamas. He kept saying with wonder, "It's dark! The leaves are dark. The cars are dark." He asked if we were going to Grandma and Grandpa's house--our trip to Pennsylvania was the last time he was awake in the dark. Then the three of us sat on the front step. He swung his legs back and forth with pleasure as he looked from one of us to the other and said, "My mama. My dad. It's the whole family! In the dark."