Sunday, Sep. 27, 2009

Terry Mackin: I wish you a merry October

Have I told you how much I like October?

I like October more than July, my birthday month, and December, the holiday season.

I like October more than March, even though I'm Irish and daylight-saving time begins, and April, even though baseball season begins.

Here are a whole bunch of reasons I like October the most:

Because of its pumpkin weather, changing colors, morning frosts, and Harvest Moons.

When I drive anywhere in Southern Illinois. The Great River Road in Alton. Illinois 3, through small towns, along the Mississippi River. But my favorite foliage is an innocent brush of about a dozen trees just a few blocks from my Belleville home.

When I drive past Eckert's on Illinois 15 and see all the Missouri license plates. Yes! Look at all the Missourians who know the East Side offers much more than a good place for bachelor parties.

When I'm riding my bike along the wooded bike trails in Madison County, or when I'm sitting on my porch, watching orange leaves twirl in the cool wind and I'm reminded that I don't have a gumball tree in the front yard.

Because of Friday night lights and when parks are filled on weekends with kids playing football, soccer, baseball, whatever - as long as they're outdoors.

When I reminisce about Octobers past, and think about childhood football games in the backyard when I believed the most valuable position was all-time center for both teams.

For the old "center sneak" play. I'd fake a snap to the quarterback and run for an untouched touchdown. But it never failed. Somebody had always called a timeout. The "center sneak" rarely worked twice on the same day.

Because of those rare but special Sundays when I can watch the Cardinals, Rams and Blues on TV on the same day. The Couch Trifecta. Windows open, of course.

When I remember Jim Hart, Kurt Warner, Sonny Randle, Isaac Bruce, Terry Metcalf and Marshall Faulk, and I'm reminded that bad football is better than no football in St. Louis.

Because I'll see the TV replays of World Series-ending strikeouts by Gibson, Sutter and Wainwright. As a Cardinals fan, I never get tired of watching those special moments.

When I'm watching those special World Series moments with a Cubs fan.

Because it's a great month for weddings, including my own vows 20 Octobers ago. A guy can wear a tux comfortably in October and not sweat through his frilly white shirt like those poor guys who get married in July or August.

When I occasionally roast a marshmallow or hot dog on the open flame of the kitchen stove. It's not quite a campfire. But it still tastes good. Less mess. No bugs.

When I put away my summer clothes, and the normal weekend attire for every unshaven guy is a baggy sweatshirt, shorts and ballcap.

Because a good frost brings a break to allergy season and my stuffed-up nose turns into a welcomed runny nose.

Because it's the last pause before the holiday season. No holiday sales yet. No store stalking. No dreams of a white Christmas, yet.

When there is plenty of antacid in the cabinet because somewhere nearby, there's a church group cooking sausages or chili on a Sunday afternoon.

When I play golf on one of those wonderful, sunny, crisp, clear October days and I could care less if I'm triple putting every hole as long as I'm outdoors.

Because I can use the few orange golf balls in my bag, and for some reason, I don't feel quite as bad hitting an orange ball into the woods.

Because it's the last month of daylight-saving time, and there's still some meaningful purpose to evenings.

When there's no one in the neighborhood burning leaves and I wonder if they read my lips last October when I said aloud, "Repeat after me: Mulch them."

Because music sounds better in October. James Taylor. John Hiatt. Van Morrison. Springsteen is coming to St. Louis this October. Perfect.

I really like October, my favorite month and favorite state of mind.