Rain lightly falling on the asphalt and concrete. Grey sky with clouds hovering over. Bostonites walking hurriedly with Columbia® and Patagonia® jackets. Mississippians, it is officially cold in Massachusetts.
I knew, before moving here, that winters are brutal, filled with snow and even blizzards if you’re lucky. What I did not know is how cold the falls are. I should have spent more time researching New England’s fall.
Right about now, Mississippi is still sitting at pretty moderate temperatures. While there are a few chillier days, most days are warm enough for nothing more than a light cardigan if you’re cold-natured. No one is even thinking about layering right now.
In contrast, I’ve pulled out one of my cozier jackets. I’m wearing socks with shoes that don’t necessarily need them. Lastly, I have pulled on my hood already, and we aren’t even in December yet.
I walked into class one day, and my professor saw how bundled up I was. She told me to wait until February. Apparently, that’s when it gets extremely cold. Oy vey…
What’s more bizarre is that I enjoy cooler weather. I’d choose winter and fall over spring and summer any day. But there is something about East Coast falls that are a bit sharper than southern ones. As I am writing this, I think I have figured out why— humidity. Massachusetts residents often complain about the humidity, and all I can do is raise a brow and chuckle. They are dumbfounded when I tell them that Mississippi’s humidity is far higher than theirs.
In short, I am thankful for cooler weather earlier in the year; however, it took me by surprise. No matter where I tread in Massachusetts during the ultra chilly falls, I am always thinking about those warm fall days in Mississippi.
