Everybody Calls Me Jana Banana: Autumn is the year’s last, loveliest smile

Thank you to all of you who expressed kindness to my family on the death of my brother and the birth of my little niece. The circle of life continues to amaze us, and spending time at the service, cleaning out his home and welcoming little Brooklynn Lee Lair from the hospital are memories that continue to affirm that each day is a gift.

The vivid fall foliage has never been so poignant. It was the season of my brother’s birthday and now of this new child. Vivid colors of the leaves that quickly fall and fade made raking my mother’s yard a small lesson in mindfulness of renewal, change and hope.

Today was spent traveling from chilly Maine back down to the Carolinas, and you definitely get the full effect of the distance between climate zones walking across the tarmac from those little U.S. Airlines planes into the airport to your connecting flight. It was chilly and dark at the Portland Jetport, overcast and warmer in LaGuardia in New York and positively balmy in Charlotte.

By the time I had arrived in Florence, collected my bags and giggled at my traveling companions that hoped they could find the baggage claim area, I knew for certain I was back in my adopted Southern home. It was pure sunshine, and I realized that I should have worn cooler clothes.

I wore thick tights the whole time I was at home and for good reason. My Yankee mother keeps her thermostat at a comfortable 65 degrees - inside. Honest to goodness, I thought I would freeze. I made pot after pot of coffee and had the tea kettle ready at all times just to keep warm.

Mom has never lived further south than Connecticut and just cannot tolerate being hot. “You’ve acclimated!” she exclaimed more than once.

Could it really be true? After almost 14 years, did my blood thin?

Everyone is like that up there, honestly. They don’t mind being cold, and keeping your home cool and dressing warmer just makes more sense. I understand to a certain extent, but the shock of wearing t-shirts to thick coats was a little fast.

It’s been a few years since I’ve flown, and, if you haven’t flown in a while, prepare for extra prices.

Did you know you have to pay to check a bag? Well, I didn’t. It cost me $25 to take my ugly, green, hard plastic suitcase to Maine. It’s huge, dark green Samsonite case with plenty of room to bring things to and from and hideous enough that I never worry about anyone wanting it. Plus, it weighs a ton empty, so imagine how much fun it is dragging it across an airport!

Savvy travelers know about this bag charge, so they bring barely legal and overstuffed carry-on bags that take forever for them to cram into the overhead bins, or they have to yellow tag them at check-in.

Keeping your car in the parking lot costs more, and everything in the airport stores and restaurants is so expensive that folks enjoy that free drink on the plane whether they are thirsty or not.

On the drive back from Florence, seeing the cotton bursting in the fields made me remember that this weekend is the Coker Farms Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and the Cotton Harvest Bluegrass Festival at the Center Theater from 2 to 9:30 p.m.

The Hartsville High School Red Regime will host and compete in the 1A and 3A Band Competitions at noon at Kelleytown Stadium, and the Lake Robinson Rescue Squad Haunted House will be open this weekend.

It was nice to go home with my family and nice to be back in South Carolina with my adopted family. From Bath, Maine, to Hartsville, God paints nature with a rich autumn palette, and Jana Banana is so happy for the gift of sight to enjoy these gorgeous leaves!