Transition in Palmer

Today is September and tomorrow is October. This is an important transition date. Especially in Palmer, it is significant. Today in Palmer you can see all four seasons at once. You can see the rich, thick green grass of summer along with some brave flowers. You can see the crisp golden leaves of fall. If you look up on the mountains you can see the fresh accumulating snow. And if you look close you can see the second blooms of some courageous plants…an occasional wild rose or dandelion which don’t seem to know when to quit. It is a magnificent seasonal view with ripe red crab apples and glorious colored leaves.

Full On Autumn—The beauty of this season has a flip side. It is the harsh recognition that summer is totally over and winter is coming. “Autumn anxiety” is a thing and with the climatic balance shift, comes some bittersweet sadness, nostalgic melancholy and anxious dread. There has been lots of study on this concept, which is not new. It is explained that we see all these beautiful view-sheds of autumn with the colors and the abundance and with it comes the indisputable recognition that the joy of summer is over. We become hyperaware of mortality and death which is beautifully displayed with the lying down of plants and the collections of leaves. This is a repeated seasonal anniversary reaction recalling the tough times coming. Specifically in Palmer, we are talking about the big winter winds, the potential electrical outages, the slippery sidewalks, the necessary plowing, the challenge of staying warm, the lack of light, and the large snowfalls. Add to this, problematic school schedules, pre-holiday stress, a long list of winter preparations, worry about flu and illness, election antics and demands, and perhaps some regrets that our personal summer goals were not completed. All of these items contribute to “Autumn Anxiety” and once you feel it, it seems to amplify each year. Without a doubt, Fall is a vortex.

Face it and Pivot—The way to deal with this change of season is to face it and flip it. Acknowledge what you feel about the upcoming winter. Realize that the anxiety is a normal thing that grows yearly. Try to rethink the overall concept of winter. It isn’t a bad thing or an intolerable thing. It is a time to get cozy and comfortable. It is time of personal projects, nice naps, lovely nourishing parties and close conversations. We seek out light, warmth, and shelter and if we find those three essentials, we can be quite fine during the long winter. This means definitely going outside in mid day and looking into the natural light. It means having good footwear so you are safe in walking. It means having a wonderful coat that keeps you warm, along with a good hat and mittens. It means celebrating with fire and studying the stars and northern lights. It means feeling the intensity of the earth’s seasonal transition. All of these instructions have been offered to me over many years; I am not a counselor or therapist but I am happy to share these suggestions with others.

Don’t Forget—Tuesday is Palmer Voting Day. This week one should honor the ancient Cottonwoods at Matanuska River Park. And to be on the safe side, find those winter boots with the good grips. We could see icy walkways any time soon. Happy October!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff on the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Email bhunt@mtaonline.net or text at 907.315.3222.