After spending a fall in the East Coast, I'm even more appreciative of this delicate season. There is a peak time for the leaves to change and it's all dependent on when the temperatures first freeze.
Places that get fall --not Houston-- seem to truly celebrate the season. There are fall festivals, seasonal foods/drinks, and TONS of decorating. It's such a happy time of year as people kick off the holiday season and start pulling out their coats and sweaters.
Some of us try to do the same here. I've put up a couple fall decorations in my house and I've been burning "autumn" scented candles all week, but it's hard to feel like the season is here when it's over 100 degrees outside and instead of the leaves turning vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, our leaves are brown and our trees are dead from the heat and drought this year.
I know it's not good to wish for what others have but as I sit here sipping my pumpkin spice latte, I think that, just maybe, if I wish hard enough, we'll get a little of that cooler air and perhaps even some rain...