Crawling into Fall

I must admit, Hamilton's doing a heck of a job trying to infuse some new life into its historic downtown core. I get this feeling she's trying to thrust off the weight of her past sins and economic woes, and the stereotypes that hold her down. With each new weight cast off, she uncovers a little magic. Events like Hamilton's Supercrawl help to reveal that magic, despite the weather.

I was proud of the huddled masses yearning to be dry last night, but persisting anyway in the rain and in the cold. Umbrellas of all shapes and sizes and bent, bobbing up and down to the beats coming from the main stage. Some, without umbrellas, donned rainjackets and galoshes, splashing happily in the puddles embracing the wet autumn night.

I had to really focus to embrace the night because I do not embrace chilly temperatures well at all, and Ohbijou, an indie band from Toronto, helped me do just that.

At first, I stood on the outskirts looking on at the sea of umbrellas satisfied with my poor view of the stage. But then I heard the sad strains of an electric violin--one of my favorite musical instruments. My interest was peaked. And then an electric cello blended into the chorus, soon followed by a man on a mandelin. All of this beautiful music began to swell with the lead singers' girlishly pure voice piercing the rain, piercing the cold, piercing the crowd, piercing me. I was lost and caught up in the rapture of this motley crue of musicians. I found myself losing all umbrella etiquette and bumping my way closer to the stage. Finding my focus, the nasty elements no longer mattered. Nothing really did except for that moment.

Canada is beautiful in the fall and I am learning to love this season. The blustery autumn winds seem to scoot out the complacency of summer ushering in a resurgence of purpose and a persistence to make the best of the coming season.

Niagara Parkway, Ontario
Photo courtesy of Cosmo Condina / Getty Images