When I first moved to Charlottesville, Virginia after ten years in San Diego, I was kind of shocked. With the heat and humidity and small town culture, I felt profoundly out of my element. I hated it and wanted to move back to the west coast. But one day in late September, everything changed. The mugginess gave way to crisp air and unending deep blue skies. The chilly winds blew the first of fall’s colorful leaves. I shivered, bought a wool scarf, and fell in love. And this morning, looking up at another glorious fall sky and snuggling into my scarf, I’m reminded of why I love the east coast and its lovely autumn. [Read more…]