The small joys of late October

Although it has been well established that I detest autumn, there is something comforting about this stretch of October. Here are a few moments that have brightened my days lately.

1. Crunchy leaves on my lunchtime walks
   I still take my lunchtime mental health walks with Murphy. The sidewalks are covered in leaves that crunch with every step of our combined six feet, and the coverage gives him countless spots to investigate. Somebody on TikTok called her dog’s walks “sniffaris” and that is an inspired portmanteau.
   
2. Hockey nights
   My NJ Devils are on an eight-game winning streak which means the energy in my living room three nights a week has been high. I wear my Devils hat during the games and Murphy matches my emotions.
   
3. NFL RedZone Sundays
   I have fallen into the NFL RedZone trap. You mean instead of watching one game or flipping between two games, I can watch one channel all afternoon and see only the exciting parts of EVERY game? Yes, please. I have sacrificed my Sunday afternoons to the football gods.
   
4. One last hour in the hammock
   I recently took down my beloved hammock for the season, but not before spending one last hour in the sunshine with You Didn’t Hear This From Me by Kelsey McKinney. Let’s face it, any sunny hour in late October feels like a stolen treasure.
   
5. Halloween cheer on every street
   I am lucky to live in a neighborhood that goes all out for holidays. Nearly every house has decorations: pumpkins, inflatable ghosts, giant spiderwebs, even eerie noises. It creates a sense of community joy that feels especially welcome in this climate.

Autumn and I may never be friends, but I will happily accept its little peace offerings.