Autumn is trying to arrive in Los Angeles, but summer has a tenacious grip here, and isn’t going to let go without a fight.
This weekend was one of the many battles between the two seasons we’ll have until summer throws in the towel, which typically happens in mid-November: autumn brought us a cold and gloomy Friday, perfect for bundling up in a sweater and sipping hot cider, but warm summer winds blew it away over night and by Saturday morning, we were back in shorts, drinking iced tea on the patio.
Anne and I wanted to spend Saturday outside, but we’d committed to spending a significant portion of the day processing and packing book orders, so we don’t fall behind. It’s important to me that the time between when people order and when they get their book is as short as possible, even if it means sacrificing a few hours on a beautiful weekend. It was really nice to sit in the living room, all the doors and windows open with a warm breeze blowing in, listening to the sound of the first fallen leaves of autumn swirl around on the patio. We processed and packed enough orders to fill one of those USPS tubs I’m not allowed to use in the construction of a fort, probably close to 200, I think. (The volume of orders and interest in The Happiest Days of Our Lives has been overwhelming and unexpected. I’m actually starting to think that the limited edition hardback may actually sell out, which would be pretty cool).
Saturday night, I went to The Comic Bug for the final Los Angeles signing of the Star Trek Manga (My one Orange County stop is on Wednesday in Huntington Beach). I’ve spent a lot of time in the South Bay in autumn, so I was prepared for a cool, possibly foggy evening, but summer has a special connection to the beach, and will not quietly follow the sun over the horizon and into the Pacific. It was clear and warm, and I felt silly when I showed up dressed for Seattle. However, it was the best tour stop we had: at least forty people showed up, and though we signed a lot of books, it was more like a party that was occasionally interrupted by signing. (Incidentally, if you’re interested in a copy of our book, signed by four writers and one artist, Comic Bug has a few of them, and they’ll ship it to you if you order from them. Tell them I sent you if you do).
It was a wonderful evening, and a great way to end the Los Angeles portion of the promotional tour.
Summer may have owned Saturday, but autumn wasn’t going to give up Sunday without a fight. It was my absolute favorite kind of weather: warm and even hot in the sun, but cool and brisk in the shade, with a hint of chill in the air everywhere. Anne and I slept late, cooked breakfast together (one of the simple pleasures in life that I love so much is cooking with my wife, especially breakfast on the weekends) and then took a massively long walk around our neighborhood, to get the most out of the beautiful day.
While we walked down a street a few blocks away that’s lined with fifty year-old trees that are just starting to give up their leaves, past an old mission-style house that had awesome Halloween decorations on its porch and in its upstairs windows.
I waved to one of my neighbors, who was scattering rye grass seed on his lawn.
"That’s optimistically early, " I said to Anne as we passed him, "there’s no way it’s going to stay cool enough for rye grass for at least another month."
"What are you, the rye grass police?"
"I’m just sayin’, is all," I said, "so don’t ask me to put it down on our lawn until at least — hey! Our anniversary is in exactly one month!"
"I love that," she said.
"That reminds me of something I was thinking about earlier this week," I said. "You know, autumn is my favorite time of year, but not just because of the weather. I love the weather, of course, but when I look into my memory, it seems like my good childhood memories are always in summer, while nearly all of my good teenage and adult memories are in autumn."
I could feel a wealth of future stories sitting on the other side of an unlocked door just begging to be opened: Halloweens spent building haunted houses with Darin, driving myself and some friends down to Glendale when I was sixteen so we could watch horror movies, gaming and Star Trek and comic conventions . . . I resisted the urge to kick the door down and greedily harvest them. I was enjoying the day with my awesome wife, after all, so I just picked one of my favorites to share with her.
"For example," I said, "I got married in autumn."
"Stop it." She said.
"I’m just sayin’, is all," I said.
"Okay," she said, and took my hand in hers for the rest of our walk.
I love that, I thought.
We met our friends for dinner last night, and when we left our house, the sun was setting, the smoke of barbecues was replaced by the smoke of fireplaces, and autumn had won the day.
Summer is back today, though, so I think I’ll go take a walk by myself, and maybe open some doors along the way.
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I love Autumn as well. Its hands down no competition my favorite time of year. Its sunny here today, but has that crisp cool edge to the air. I’m in heaven.
I love how Anne and you are together. Its so rare to find couples who are so in love and friends as well. Sunday is my favorite day, because I know my husband will snuggle with me all morning if I like. There is just something so rocking about being with my husband. I imagine the way I feel about him is about how you feel for Anne. Its a damn good feeling to have. <3
I’m a fall fan too. Unfortunately, we only get a week of autumn (or thereabouts) in South Florida (Where Wil won’t come visiting). Leaves fail to fall from trees and the weather can be summer hot one day and really cold (like 75 degrees) the next. Can’t wait for my book to arrive. I ordered it before you officially went on sale. (Me first ! Me first!)
The most precious things are often those which mean the most to oneself. To others it may seem to be insignificant, but as long as one’s own appreciation of the moment is there – it will never be anything but the most wonderful thing in the world.
I have found that the things I love the most in life are not what people expect for me to like. It is not the highly considered and though-through moments like an elaborate birthday celebration, directed down to the last detail which matter the most. No, it is the leaves of autumn, falling softly from the trees’ canopy, or the simple breeze which carries them far away.
Fall has always been my favorite time of year… something about the order of starting a new school year schedule combined with the smells and colors of fall make me happy.
And if you think you are excited to be shipping your books, think of how we feel having ordered them directly from you, knowing that you and Anne personally handled our books? 🙂
I love that I have today off. My roommate and I went into Carl Schurz park today overlooking the East River, she sat under a tree and read her birthday present from me (Gossip Girl), and I wrote about having days like this all the time. I love when I have Mondays off. I demand that the work schedule be changed to having Mondays off.
Your lovely autumn storm Friday caused it to snow all day at my house Saturday, so thanks for that. It was fun to send pictures to my friends.
I love autumn as well, we drove up in to the canyons last week and all the trees were red and yellow and the deer were out because it was cooler during the day.
I will know it is officially winter when my walnut tree sheds it leaves though, because it does them all in one day. Seriously looks like that willow tree in the Harry Potter movie when it does it, too.
Here in Portland, Oregon, Summer never really came, Autumn is quickly passing and Winter arrived last week on Mt. Hood leaving large amounts of snow. It’s already beginning to be gray and gloomy; I miss the Summer that never arrived.
That’s kind of what it’s like where I am, too. It’s October and I can feel the weather wanting to go into autumn mode but the hot temperatures refuse to let us go. I wish it would. There’s nothing worse than a warm Halloween. I’m ready for cider and red and gold leaves on the ground.
I see another set of stories coming up but I’m happy you didn’t rush to harvest them. I mean, just like nose gold you want to share them with the townspeople but I’m pretty sure your day was better spent with Anne. (I’m just going to apologize now if my attempt to paraphrase a popular quote from an equally popular show just came off as incredibly lame. It is what it is, you know?)
Oh, and yes, you probably will sell out of the limited edition hard cover. I know I’m waiting to get one. Will you then just sell normal hard covers once the limited signed editions are sold? P.S. How many paperbacks have been ordered already? I.E. How many people desperately want your book?
Thank you for sharing such a nice story. You two are really cute, you know? 🙂
Cheers!
Here in Orlando Autumn teases us with wonderful mornings and succumbs to summer’s grasp by noon – until November anyway. Thanks for a warming story, reminds me of how much i love autumn and how much i miss the seasons living in Florida – I’m thinking of moving north in the future…Boston perhaps.
There is no way to make this comment without being a condescending arsehole. I’m so glad that you’ve grown into a happy well adjusted adult. You’ve managed to avoid, to my knowledge, the pitfalls of so many who’ve tasted stardom so young.
More than anything, you’ve become happy with your life and in the end that is all anyone can hope for.
Good On You! I hope you and yours are happy now and into the future.
It was really good to see you on Saturday!
I just ordered a soft-cover copy of “The Happiest Days of Our Lives”. If I had waited for a hard-cover I may have missed out entirely. Here in Louisiana our leaves get a little “color” in early December. I am so happy that you are excited about your new book.
Freeman 🙂
Write on!
(I know, I know. But what else can you expect from an ex-hippie?)
You just made me think of the Ray Bradbury collection of short stories called, “The Autumn People”.
Spooky.
We’ve been fortunate to have an almost perfect autumn in Colorado this year; warm in the sun, but cool with a brisk wind in the shade and the tang of fallen leaves in the air.
My favorite thing to do is read “Something Wicked This Way Comes” by Ray Bradbury, following the chapters on the days in October when they’re supposed to occur. To me he captured the sweet, crisp, mysterious sorrow of autumn best in that story. And when I want to feel that creepy Halloween vibe that I felt as a kid, I read his short story collection, “The October Country”.
Curled up on the porch with an afghan, a good book and some hot mulled cider on an autumn afternoon. Mmmm….
(Heh – Keith posted while I was writing. Glad I’m not the only Bradbury/autumn fan!)
Hey, I really need to order an autographed copy.
PLEEEZE!
Mike aka Altigenman
We had a pleasent snow a week or so ago. It’s great to shake off the oppresive shackles of positive temperatures again.
SP
Autumn is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. I would love to be able to head up to the mountains later this month.
Right now Im trying to figure out how to order the Magna via the Comic Bug. Cant find an online order, and the contact us page isnt comming up 🙁
Ehh..nevermind. The email whatsit was being a pain.
Dammit Wil! Why do you have to be such an entertaining storyteller? Because of you my wort boiled over. I thought I could take a few minutes to sit and read some of the interwebs before it got boiling again and it was time to add the hops, but this story was so engaging I forgot all about my beer! I’m sure it will survive though. Thanks for the few minutes of calm relaxation (followed by a few seconds of panic).
I would like to come to Huntington Beach on Wednesday, but it would help if you could post details soon. 🙂 (The SoCal tour page still ends at Saturday’s gig.)
“Hey, it’s our anniversary in one month!”
“For example, I got married in autumn.”
Very smooth bro. Very smooth.
Mark.
Some days (like today), reading your blog leaves me with that ‘peaceful, easy feeling’…..thank you for that.
I love the battle between summer and fall in Southern California.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE summer, but right now, I’m ready for it to be fall. And I hope it’s a cool and wet season.
That’s a very sweet sentiment. I too love autumn. Here in Florida it means the end of sweltering summer and a respite from hurricanes!
You are so lucky to be able to leave doors and windows open. Here in Australia it’s the beginning of Spring’s warmer weather. Finally we are having some lovely warm and sunny days. However, along with the nice weather has come a staple of Australian Summer: hoards and hoards of flies. No open doors or windows for me. 🙁
Oh, speaking of Australia, when do us Aussies get a chance to buy your book?
Wil,
Here on the east coast, it still feels like summer. It is not the first or last time for these October temperatures. It will cool off soon enough and I will turn into a snow person. Enjoy the warmth and stay in the momment.
FG
Wil-
I love the way you and Anne are together; it seems you two have a perfect mix of playful and earnest. I always enjoy hearing about your day-to-day lives.
I, too, enjoyed Pasadena’s brief foray into crisp and clear last week. I’m from Connecticut originally, so I tend to miss autumn something fierce. Those cooler days were a wonderful treat.
I also love how Pasadena smells right now. Flowers mixed with BBQ mixed with woodsmoke. Perfect.
Interesting parallel – Today is actually the 7th anniversary for me and Mrs. Super Tool. That day, in front of a farmhouse in the Catskill Mountains, we ushered in our life together with the following fall weather: sun, rain, snow, hail, wind, sun again, and bright blue sky. It remains to this day our belief that our union has upset the balance of nature on this planet. I hope we haven’t caused any extinctions yet.
You know I realised a few years ago that the day I remember the most throughout my life, isn’t my Birthday, it isn’t evn Christmas, it’s November 5th (Bon Fire night in the UK), and some of my memories are of the simple things like walking round my old town with what was then my wife-to-be looking at all the different Bon Fires and Firework displays, just spending time together, thank you of reminding me of these times you’ve made the start of my day a happy occasion.
I adore autumn, too bad we don’t really get one in Phoenix. No winter really either=(. Okay, so I saw on Twitter that signed hardcover copies will be/are available but WHERE?? Did I miss the boat? Oh also, you are a sweet boy. You and Anne are lovely together.
It’s posts like this one that keep me coming back for more. You write so well…I could just see the two of you walking down the street holding hands, could almost smell the chimney smoke myself! lol…..awesome!
*sigh* This entry is yet another reason why I come here 3-4 times per day, checking to see if you’ve added any more entries. The emotion, images and memories your writing envokes is awesome. I really must order your books. I have a feeling they would be like my copy of Stephen King’s “Different Seasons”, tattered and pages falling out from reading it so many times.
You could totally build a fort out of the USPS tubs if it was a fort dedicated to postal work. That way you could have the Pony Express at your fort for added awesomeness.
Having grown up in England, Autumn was always quite grey for me. Leaves fell off of the trees in a variety of reds and browns and oranges, but the sky was always monotonous and the world seemed to painted in washed out colours. Autumn always filled me with a sense of disappointment.
This year is my first Californian Autumn. So far it’s been cold, briefly, and now it’s warm again. I could get used to this.
Fall has always been my favorite season. It used to be because my birthday was in the fall… and now it’s my favorite because Mother Nature repaints my surroundings with my favorite colors. I feel the crispness in the air, I hear the crunch of the leaves as I walk… and I love every minute of it.
But I’ll never be able to put it as eloquently as you do, Wil. You’re such a beautiful writer, and I feel fortunate to know you in this way.
(And I’m really REALLY hoping that my copy of your new book arrives before I leave for Calgary tomorrow so I can read it on the plane!)
Hey, Wil, I just started a youtube project last week that is already getting a good response from subscribers. I think of you a lot when I’m working on it, since you have been a big inspiration for the path my “career” has taken thus far. It features three newer ACME company members you may not be familiar with. If you have time to check it out, that’d be sweet. Maybe you could mention it in your blog; help some young Oates protegees out?
http://www.youtube.com/musecast5
Best,
~TR
Hey Wil,
Lovely story, as per usual. Where can I order a hard copy version of your book (if there are any left that is)?
Shonkayla
So after reading your recent entries I noticed the update to your publisher site… “Unfortunately, due to the complex machinery that handles the packaging, handling and shipping of the Monolith Press products, we are unable to combine shipping at this point in time. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.”
“Complex Machinery” LOL…I love it!
-Justin
Ok, so when you asked if anyone would by a hard copy and we responded in the old comments, was that really an official order, or do we need to submit an new one? I ask because I have been waiting for the hardback copy but if there is none left to order I will get a paperback one for myself instead.
Wil,
Your, ahem, favorite “Blogger’s Choice Awards” season is open.
Voting ends October 19th.
Link:
http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/27543
My one Orange County stop is on Wednesday in Huntington Beach…
Hey Wil, where and when in Huntington Beach are you going to be tonight? Your book tour post ends at last Saturday.