The season of squash soup has finally arrived.
Fall, or autumn as some people prefer to know it, is a season of beauty. Beauty can mean many things: the beauty found in change, or the loveliness found in nostalgia. A wave of reminiscence stems from old fall memories, like jumping into a pile of yellow leaves or spilling squash soup all over your sweater during a picnic. The crunching sound of the leaves and the overbearing smell of squash washes over one when seeing autumn’s signature elements back in full swing. Red-orange foliage, paired with the wafting scents of pumpkins, apples, and midterms, hold an appeal that is appreciated by most everyone. The sun is out, just enough for walks outside to stop being dramatized games of avoid-the-sunbeam; pumpkin spice is back in every coffee shop; the air is crisp, with a subtle smell that you only sense if you look hard enough.
Barstow’s own Mr. Muhammad, titled as Dean of Student Services, conveyed his intense love for autumn. His favorite thing about the season is the enablement of layering clothing in a stylish manner. “I feel like, when it comes to wardrobe, autumn gives you the most flexibility,” he said.
Mr. Muhammad said the season has a certain warmth to it that he greatly appreciates. “I enjoy the energy of [going] back to school, because it’s like renewal, but it’s also like death,” the dean said. “The leaves are dying. It’s this really unique mixture of what life is, [like] you surge into your most beautiful state before you die.” Mr. Muhammad is clearly a man who loves to reflect on life.
Upon collecting information, it seems that a recurring theme of ‘perfect weather’ was found when people were asked why they like the season. Rachel Jacobs ‘26 expertly suggested that students should simply go outside and look around if they want to derive the most value from the wonders of autumn. Similarly, Spanish teacher Profe Marvin said, “Go outside. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold. Enjoy it.” The B-Liners support this advice, because making physical contact with grass every once in a while is never a bad idea.
Fall foods is a hot topic in itself. It seems that, generally, ‘cozy’ dishes are preferred. To Mr. Muhammad, this means stew, curry, chili, gumbo, sweet potatoes, and dishes containing broth. Ms. Marvin focuses on drinks— carrot juice, orange juice, chai, and cider— and apple-flavored baked goods, like apple crumble and apple pie. Rachel likes soup, pumpkin spice and cinnamon flavors, and apple cinnamon tea.
Each candidate seems to have starkly different definitions of the phrase “fall food.” As for me, squash soup, vanilla scones, and warmer options like chai tend to do a satisfactory job of filling my stomach with autumn spirit. A 2022 study on autumn revealed 44% of the polled population drinks hot chocolate in the fall, while 40% can’t get enough of soup. 31% indicated a love for cinnamon apple flavors.
Autumn is a state of transition from the bright, bustling summer to the stillness and placidity of winter. The leaves are slowly donning their red and orange dresses before floating down to the ground as the cold settles in. For most, this is the highlight of the season— the beautiful, vivid colors seen everywhere one looks. The changing of hues is symbolically representative of the changing of life, and the phenomenon is greatly appreciated by people everywhere.
“[The best thing about fall] is the leaves changing colors. I think it’s like the earth saying ‘Hey, pay attention to me,’” Mr. Muhammad said. “The more we stay inside and get commercialized, [the more] we get away from the beauty that is the creation. You don’t realize how powerful life is.”
The Autumnal Equinox was on Saturday, September 23, 2023. The equinox is considered the astronomical commencement of the season, to the great celebration of the B-Liners. As a globally revered genius known as Winnie the Pooh once said: “It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!” I dearly hope that the students, faculty, and parents of Barstow feel the same as the B-Line’s friend Winnie, as well as our lovely Mr. Muhammad, Rachel, and Ms. Marvin.
The sun is not searing hot, and the cold isn’t enough to make your fingers feel as if they’ll fall off at any moment. The weather is essentially perfect, especially in the KCMO area, once the right time hits. According to Mr. Muhammad, getting outside is nutritional both to the mind and body. It’s one’s own responsibility to enjoy autumn before it slips away into mounds of snow and slush. Welcome the season with cheer!
