Anne Taylor Fleming wrote this piece for the New York Times which aptly describes autumn in Southern California. (It was written in 1988, so forgive a few time-locked references).

Enjoy reading this if you live here.

Wonder what it is like if you live where fall portends real winter.

“Fall is definitely here,” my husband said the other morning, returning from the front yard with the newspapers. How did he know? “Because the car seats are damp,” he said. “I guess it’s time to put the top up.”

We shook our heads ruefully. Another summer had gone. The convertible top had been up once in six months, and then only for a light rain that fell one day in June. Other than that, we’d cruised the freeways, top down, hair flying, sun in our faces. Now it was time to recognize that cooler days were coming: the top would have to be up, at least part of the time.  Read more

Photo credit: Albert’s Canon Photography