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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Fall 2006: The Best is Yet To Come
By Esther J. Perne There is a secret to a peaceful, quiet lake The fall season arrives in this region when it will, regardless of defining dates, and although the world scurries and worries to make good for winter, it also revels in the invigoration of change, of new activities and opportunities, of a restfulness and winding down that make place for the unique enjoyments of the fall season. The days become shorter, but somehow there is more time — time for lingering outdoors, for catching up on projects left undone all summer, for turning customary too brief greetings into enjoyable conversations, for starting evening activities earlier and making them last longer. 
The roads are less traveled, more scenic, more inviting for exploration and more shareable with slow drivers. They lead to trails that beckon casual wanderers, and serious hikers, to visit the heights of land and the overlooks of the area. They lead to villages that bask in the autumn sun and suggest leisurely browsing. They lead to the ever more silent lakes and ponds. The lakes in fall are almost traffic-free; the boats few and far between. But to be in one of them, to venture out on the water, is a "to own the world" feeling. It's a great time to explore a new shoreline, circle an island, cross a cove, marvel at how lake and horizon optically merge, and — maybe — take a brisk dip. Everywhere there is a changing of color, of roadside green turning to brown, of pastureland and fields turning to gold, of hills turning to red, vibrant in the splashes of sunshine, vivid even in the quiet rain. Eventually the region will be brightened with showers of leaves. 
Outdoor activities in fall may be a lesser option, but inside recreation comes into focus. Community centers, Y's, gyms have programs both healthful and social, and welcome resident and visitor alike. Events change. Summer music and theater series close, but Opera House and campus-based seasons open. School performances and sports, films, late season theater specials are all outing resources. The shops, the seasonal ones, will close but not before tempting sales for browsers and buyers alike. There are great fall sales in the shops and stores that will remain open, too. The end of summer signals many changes and closings. One thing winds down, and another picks up. The best is yet to come. | ||