Autumn in Eugene

Katie D.

October 29, 2011 - 4:51 PM

It is so beautiful here. Autumn in Eugene is such a hit-or-miss season. Some years the rains begin early, making the leaves fall quickly and dampening the pleasure of walking out in the colorful change of Oregon seasons. But some years autumn is crisp and gorgeous, with fog in the mornings and an exuberance of late flowers and brilliant leaves. Some years, like this one, there is an abundance of blackberries, apples, and plums in overgrown side yards and alleyways, and every hour of sunny weather feels like a gift.

I have rarely seen Eugene looking so beautiful.

I've started taking long walks again. I used to walk forty minutes to get to campus, which meant I saw a lot of Eugene weather on a daily basis. Now my commute is between six and fifteen minutes, depending on the destination on campus. So I don't have that daily routine of witnessing the leaves slowly change color, or witnessing certain households along my route as they decorate for Halloween and care for their gardens as time passes. My commute is too brief to truly enjoy the season, or to maintain my strong sense of how the South Campus Neighborhood looks, beyond the few blocks to campus and to my favorite grocery stores and coffee shops.

Now that I'm not walking for a commute, I'm rediscovering the joy of walking around town for my own health and happiness. This weekend I talked with two friends, each for almost an hour. Instead of working on tidying my room, or just sitting and talking as I usually do, I took my phone call for a long walk around Eugene. Both walks took me to new and beautiful parts of Eugene. First I went to Hendricks's Park, which is one of my favorite open spaces in Eugene. After walking the beautiful gravel paths through rhododendrons and massive trees, I picked a road and walked until I was lost, and then continued until I found my way home again. Today I walked near my old house in South Eugene, but I discovered an open space near a golf course, which was essentially an oak forest with tiny paths wandering for what felt like miles and miles.

The rain is coming soon. I can feel it in the air, and anxiously watch the weather reports to see when our long, wet winter will begin. We are already beyond due for some serious rain to begin. And the rain is worth it-growing up in Colorado I learned the true value of a green, explosively growing environment. The rain is worth it to me. But these last few days of late, bright summer weather are such a joy.

It also occurred to me yesterday that this will be my last autumn as a Duck. Whatever comes next, I'll be leaving Oregon for a while to explore the world beyond this campus and beyond this town that has become my home. I'm excited for whatever the future holds, but I am also very aware that, as I walk these streets that have become so familiar to me will soon be a part of my past. So I'm so thankful for this long moment before the rain begins, and this chance to appreciate Eugene in all its beauty.

I am so lucky to live in this beautiful, beautiful place.