Fall, Hayrides, and my brother...

A little over five years ago, my brother moved out of the home that we had lived in our entire lives, and moved twenty minutes away into his own house. Having lived with him for around 23 years, it was quite an adjustment for me. I am a very lucky person to have a brother who is one of my very best friends. Him moving out was the signal that we were grown ups, and it was time to take that next step of independence in our lives. I lived with our parents for three more years before I got my own house. We are now independent and grown up, but thankfully we remain each others' favorite person.

Every year since Nick's departure from our childhood home, he has had a hayride in October. This party includes all the best things about fall: bonfire, hayride, good food, friends, cold fall nights, and always some kind of humorous shenanigans(like photos with that road sign in the driveway - ha ha!). It doesn't seem to matter whether he has it the first weekend in October, or the last, that night still ends up being cold enough to make you bundle up and shiver until you get close to the fire. Is there anything better to do on a fall night?!





In the past I have always liked going to his house before everyone else arrives, to watch Nick in his glory. Nick is quite the little putterer around his house. Before the festivities of his fall party, he can be found cleaning inside the house, smoking some amazing meat to eat that night, or outside chopping fire wood and building a massive fire. He is a man on a mission, and can do that while having a funny movie playing on the livingroom TV, taking tiny breaks every now and again to laugh at a favorite part. I love to hang out with him while he is messing around his house.

Now when I say he has a hayride, I don't mean that he has one for the kids that are present at the party. This is an adult hayride. Sure, there are always some kids on board, but primarily, this is a fun event for all us grown ups who just want to relive that fun we had once upon a time when we were young. Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I am a kid at heart. So climbing on Nick's trailer that is loaded down with hay and settling in for a ride through the back of Marion and into the country is enough to get me all wound up! I'm smiling more than the kids - who are complaining about it being cold. WHAT?! It's supposed to be cold....it's...a...hayride! Only the truly successful hayrides leave you so cold at the end that everyone runs to the fire and can't decide which side of you to point at the fire to warm up first! I'm sorry kids, was there not enough technology on this ride to please you? Bah! Humbug! Get with the outdoors kiddos, it's fall! The only thing that would make this night better, is if we were all going back to carve pumpkins together!

Get the hot chocolate brewing, and the s'mores toasting, cause tomorrow night is the big event! It will be a night full of some of the same things we do and love every year, and surely some events that we never thought would happen. You never know what to expect when you go to one of Nick's hayrides! But that really is what makes it the most wonderful time of the year!