Monday, September 22, 2008 | by nathan

Equinox

This, the first day of autumn, seems to foretell something amazing in the coming few months. Today I was asked to fill out a bit of paperwork that effectively finalizes my employment status at a job that, I’m shocked to say, I really, really like. I’ve been here for over two years, on a contract, benefits-free basis, and my boss and I have been advocating for me to be made full-time ever since he arrived in January. Sure, it’s taken ten months, but it’s happened, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

My favorite time of year is here. This summer has been absolutely incredible, probably one of the best of my life, and I confess I’m a little sad to see it go. Not since my long-since-vanished youth have I heralded the end of summer. When I was a kid summers were perfect, active, exciting, and free, and the summer of 2008 recaptured that magic in a way that I haven’t experienced since that time I was fired from a horrible job in April, then spent most of the subsequent summer whiling away my unemployment with McCormack’s vodka and afternoons spent working on a horrible, horrible novel that has since been finished, then burned.

This summer, though - this summer showed me possibilities and dreams. I feel younger than 28, and excited to see what the future holds. I’ve recently experienced a flood of creativity; in one week earlier this month I wrote over 7,500 words of my current novel, a book and a story I believe in and love. I think I can have it written and the editing process begun before 2009 begins, and I honest to God believe I can sell it. It’s thrilling.

This summer the Great Oklahoma Road Trip took us all over this amazing state, getting us sick at one point, yes, but also offering some amazing new adventures and moments of grace, like at the top of Black Mesa when I was overcome by silence and beauty. I hope we can repeat the trip next summer with all new destinations; I’ve already got a few in mind.

This summer the garden took me completely by surprise, both how well it has done and how much I’ve enjoyed caring for it and seeing it grow. We haven’t had as much wonderful food from it as I’d expected and hoped, which is due mostly to the fact that I didn’t think carefully enough about what to plant, what we’d eat. It turns out that tiny little tomatoes are only good for so much, and it’s really, really easy to get sick of cucumbers. Still, I’ve got even higher hopes and bigger plans for next year, and I look forward to putting those into action.

Usually August stands like this brick wall in between summer and fall, this awful hot swamp that you have to pass through to get from one good time to another; this year, for whatever reason, this August was absolutely fantastic - the weather was temperate, the garden went nuts, and I was in unbelievably high spirits almost the entire time. We had a wonderful time with my family in Colorado, a great time at my ten-year reunion, and dude, how great were the Olympics and the Democratic National Convention? Come on, August 2009: Try to top this.

This fall is shaping up to be great, as well. University of Oklahoma football is going full-steam-ahead and we’ve been having a blast at the games. I’m excited to see the presidential debates and while I’ve become unhealthfully obsessed with the election, in the meantime the SNL sketches, the debates, the general electricity in the air, it’s all kind of fun. Next week my mom and I are headed up to Kansas City to catch the opening show of Tina Turner’s tour, and toward the end of October Brian and I will be celebrating his 30th birthday at the Paris Las Vegas, where we’ve already decided we’ll spend plenty of time by the rooftop pool, get massages in the spa, play penny Price Is Right slots, drink for free and party our asses off at Krave.

The week after that is the opening game of the Thunder’s inaugural season, and then Halloween. Laurie and Jaye joined us this weekend at Super Target to check out Halloween decorations, and while we were there, getting giddy and excited like 8-year-olds, Laurie and I came up with the brilliant idea of turning mine & Brian’s back porch into a "haunted bar" and having a Halloween party. Planning is underway.

I love the autumn; the possibilities always seem endless. What’s on tap for you this fall?