Reflections on Fall

Fall on the east coast is very different from that in Washington. Most of the trees here are deciduous, which means that the Autumn months are gorgeous and full of color. It has been quite warm until the last few days, so the trees haven't completely changed color, but they are beginning to turn. Right outside my window, there is a beautiful tree (don't ask me what kind, I don't know my deciduous. If you want to know the difference between a pine and a fir, I can help you there, but I can't tell you which one is an oak or a maple), which has just begun to change from green to a light yellow. When the sun is shining, the leaves fill my room with a beautiful glow. I thoroughly enjoy all of the various colors of Autumn: the yellows, oranges, and reds. It is so pretty, however, I miss the evergreens that cover the landscape of Western Washington. While the colors here are spectacular, they are the final act before all the trees are bare and winter sets in. Winter without the presence of evergreens is depressing. I think that is one of the things that I love the most about Western Washington: no matter what season it is, there will always be color somewhere. While many people say that the Seattle area is depressing because it is always gray, it is my position that it is less depressing because the trees are fully clothed all year round. Yes, it rains a lot in Washington, but the endless green is so worth it. When I moved out here, I did not anticipate missing my home state as much as I do. I did live in Eastern Washington for the past four years, but there are still evergreens there, at least near Whitworth. I like New Jersey, but I definitely prefer the beauty of Washington's fir trees, the Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier. Though there are only two season in Washington: constant rain and rain with some sun mixed in; I love that state and will miss it for at least the next three years.