The Magic of October

By Joseph Barry on October 7, 2012

Well, it’s finally October, which in its own way is synonymous with Autumn. The leaves are changing and sweatshirts, sweatpants, and yoga pants have replaced t-shirts and shorts. It’s not necessarily freezing, but there’s a pleasant crisp coolness in the air. Pumpkin patches are open and horror movies reign supreme on TV and in cinemas.

I have a top three list of the things I think make October especially exciting.

Pumpkin spice lattes are the first official sign that autumn has arrived! I don’t know how Starbucks did it, but somehow they’ve perfected the taste of fall in a cup. Nothing constitutes a better start to the morning or a study break meal than pumpkin bread or a pumpkin cream cheese muffin washed down with a pumpkin spice latte! This trifecta is the essence of the flavors of fall.
The midway point of the first semester of college falls in the month of October. That means there’s more behind you than ahead of you before you reach winter break! One full semester is too long for me, personally, so it helps me to mentally break it down into chunks. Knowing I’m over halfway there is great–I can’t speak for every college student, but this is always a reassuring feeling to me.
The month goes out with the biggest bang of any of the twelve. HALLOWEEN! HALLOWEEN!!! Yes, it is that big and exciting that I needed to repeat it. It’s the best excuse for people to dress up in costumes ranging from basic to extravagant. When else can you be at a party and see someone dressed up as a Power Ranger talking to someone dressed as Chewbacca and another person in a toga? It’s personally my favorite holiday just because things that would be considered weird any other day of the year don’t even get a second look on the 31^st.