Today, September 1st

This is my first day of autumn. For 30 years I have lived in summer. The leaves never turn drastically and we have summer clothes 365 days, every year. There is no winter, no spring. Every day of the year the sun rises at around 5 or 6 in the morning; it is directly overhead at midday; and sets at about half past six in the evening.

The fluctuation throughout the whole year is by about twenty minutes, little enough to feel as if there is no difference at all, as if every day is pretty much the same as the one that went before. There is no lengthening and shortening: either it is day, or it is night, simple as that. The trees have their own rhythms, but they do not coordinate with each other. There no widespread shedding of leaves, no sense of death or rebirth. Aside from the question of whether there is rain or no rain, every day is exactly the same as the one before.

Yesterday afternoon the wind blew so forcefully, I thought a typhoon was coming as this was how it is in my country. After a fit of wind, we expect a downpour; but yesterday only a few drops of rain came and the wind howled for about 3 hours. It slammed my wide-opened summer windows. I asked my husband if this weather was fine and he said:
This is the start of autumn.

And so earlier this morning as I was about to go out for a run, I had to put my jacket on. This change and passing of seasons is so beautiful. But I am afraid not to feel the sun in the next coming days.