“The heat of autumn
is different from
the heat of summer.
One ripens apples,
the other turns them
to cider.” 
Jane Hirshfield

When I think of the season of autumn, I think of words like brisk, cozy, chilly, and colorful. I also find myself immersed in a pumpkin-spice culture: pumpkin-spice latte, pumpkin-spice breads and muffins, pumpkin-spice milkshakes, pumpkin-spice Oreos and protein bars, pumpkin-spice shoe laces,… well, that might be going a bit too far. Generally speaking, however, it’s a wonderful time of year. And although the inevitable cooler days of autumn will eventually arrive, it’s not uncommon for us to experience a few warmer-than-usual days in this season of transition. Such will be the case in this upcoming week.

Predicted temperatures for the next four days in the West-San José/Campbell neighborhoods are as follows: Monday – 97º, Tuesday – 104º, Wednesday – 102º, and Thursday – 97º. A more seasonable 85º is predicted for Friday. While this might prompt some to point out the reality of global warming, late-summer and early-autumn heat waves are nothing new. In the greater San Francisco Bay Area, the term “Indian Summer” has been used for decades to justify the hotter-than-usual days of September and October. By the end of October, I expect that we’ll be back to seasonal norms here in Silicon Valley.

I have to admit that I enjoy the warmer weather, knowing that it’s temporary and that it will soon be replaced by those brisk, cozy, and chilly days of November we’ve come to expect. Tuesday’s high of 104º is a bit daunting. I’m hoping to escape the heat and enjoy another day of walking in San Francisco, where the high will be only 85º, which, for San Franciscans, is roasting or hella-hot, depending upon your generation. And if I happen to pass a Jamba Juice shop along the way, I’ll probably stop-in to pick up a pumpkin-spice smoothie.