Your pumpkin spice latte is a lie.
Yes, it’s fall and pumpkin spice is all the rage. Except for me. I hate pumpkin spice (which contains 0 pumpkin), and I hate fall.
People go absolutely crazy for fall. When late September rolls around, people are off the rails for everything fall. On the other hand, I find fall to be a nuisance. Being in the fall season makes no difference in my daily activities, and the changes that come with this three-month season are nothing short of overwhelming. It’s constantly shoved in my face, and I just have to deal with it until fall ends.
Pumpkin spice is one of the most anticipated aspects of the fall season. Some soccer moms and millennials go so far even as to say that “when pumpkin spice lattes start at Starbucks is when fall starts.” Pumpkin spice, whether in a liquid or powder flavoring, is made primarily of “an aromatic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger,” according to an Allrecipes recipe. No trace of a certain rotund, orange gourd can be found in pumpkin spice flavoring.
When did pumpkin become the primary staple of fall? It’s everywhere. Wendy’s has pumpkin-flavored frosty, Starbucks has its infamous pumpkin spice latte, Oreo has limited-time-only pumpkin spice flavor creme flavor, and Goldfish even has a special partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts to make the Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams.
The coming of fall also means that football season has touched down and has dominated the sports realm. As a non-football watcher, this is a miserable time of year to endure. Football season is full of fans screaming at televisions. As someone who has a sensory issue around loud sounds, I have to be on high alert. And it’s not just on the weekend anymore. Whether it be high school, college, or NFL, there is bound to be a game on. Football games also have an inherent ability to bring out the worst in people, fans and players alike. Fans will argue in front of the TV against their friends, and family and cause feuds among those they are close with.
Thanksgiving is one of the largest holidays celebrated in the continental U.S. The traditional menu consists of turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie (see my aforementioned rant), some sort of casserole, macaroni and cheese, and stuffing.
But with so many ethnicities being represented in our islands, those classic staples are often pushed aside in favor of more diverse food choices. So here in Hawaiʻi, Thanksgiving is just another day for locals to host a party. Your usual spread of poke, rice, soybeans, steak, chips, and Hawaiian Sun juice can be found on the table and usually gets eaten first before the traditional Thanksgiving food. And would you happen to guess what’s always playing on TV? A football game.
When I lived on the mainland, people adored the changing temperatures, being able to wear more layers of clothing and bundle up with a fuzzy blanket and a good book. I however, loathed the idea of having to pull out the dusty bins of long sleeve shirts, and then have to decide how many layers it took for me to be warm because one layer too much could mean you could sweat, but one layer too little, and you’ll still be cold the whole day. It’s a fine line to cross, and at that point, it’s a guessing game you will probably lose.
With colder weather during the autumn season, many people like to spend time at home. Unlike the continental U.S., the temperature remains a steady 70-80 degrees in the cooler seasons.
That means, if I go out during the daytime, there’s a chance that substantial rain could fall without real warning. But on top of all that, since the weather is still warm, it can be incredibly muggy and sticky due to the humidity.
On Oct. 31, many dress up in costumes and walk the streets to collect candy. The costumes that kids wear are only used for a couple of hours and then get thrown away at the end of the night. All of that candy that kids accumulate is incredibly unhealthy, as kids like to eat handfuls of candy when they get home. In many cases, the candy will also go to waste too.
While the changing leaves of fall can be a pretty sight for those on the mainland, everywhere else here in the tropics is trying to emulate the feeling of fall. From department stores, restaurants, grocery shops, cafes, and even at home, there is no escape, but I don’t have to like it.
There’s no reprieve when the seasons flip on Dec. 21. You don’t even want to get me started on why I hate winter.