I'm not sure what October has been like in your neck of the woods, but October 2026 in central Pennsylvania has been 10/10 — no notes. Mornings have been crisp, afternoons have been mild, skies have been blue, leaves have been vibrant. I've comfortably sat outside many afternoons to each lunch. After I'm warmed up when raking leaves, I can strip off my outer sweatshirt over my tee and enjoy the breeze on my bare forearms.
One early Saturday morning, I visited a local park and veered off their standard trails to explore surrounding fields, feeling like Elizabeth Bennet stomping through the English countryside or Anne Shirley reveling in the cozy falls at Green Gables, profoundly grateful to live in a world where there are Octobers.
This month has been busy in my new position at work. I'm learning new rhythms: which weeks will be teaching-heavy, which weeks will be grading-heavy, which weeks will be both. I'm creating a mental map of this new academic pattern, allowing myself to not know the things I can't yet know, and also taking comfort that I'll carry this knowledge with me into each subsequent fall.
As we close, enjoy some of the scenes from my October wanderings. I hope you've enjoyed this month as much as I have.
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