Fall is, by far, the coolest season of the year. And it’s not just because winter is too cold, summer is too hot, or spring is too wet (all right, it is part of the reason.)

In fall, the air is crisp, there’s dew on the grass, and it’s always chilly but not cold enough for long pants and jackets. It’s the season of layers, really, especially because the mornings feel like you’ve stepped into an ice bath but the afternoons feel like the peak of summer. Yes, it can be frustrating and uncomfortable to have your heavy jeans stick to your legs when you walk out of school in the afternoon, but it’s an integral part of fall. The threat of snow one day and blistering, cicada infested heat the next is what makes fall so diverse. You get the best of both worlds in a sense. Plus, we need fall to get acclimated to the cold. Imagine if the temperature went straight from swimming pool weather into fingers turning blue inside your gloves as you attempt to shovel snow kind of weather? You would be a miserable ice cube for three months. The beauty of fall is that you can wear shorts and a tank top in fifty degree weather but also light a fire in the fireplace and drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte, all in the same day.

As for clothing, fall is the perfect time for burgundy pea coats, burnt orange stockings, long scarves and beanies. You get to wear tall boots and fuzzy socks and look like the human embodiment of the season. It’s the time to curl up in a blanket with pumpkins on it and watch a scary movie with steaming hot chocolate and s’mores. But it’s also the time of short sleeve shirts and open toed shoes because fall is such a versatile and unpredictable season.It’s the time of year where you can have two wardrobes instead of one, which is nice because you have a lot more options for what to wear, instead of the wearing the same old winter jacket or pair of shorts.

And of course, you can’t forget about the leaves; they're a fall staple. Autumn is nothing without bright yellows, reds and oranges, and the bluest sky undisturbed by the biting wind rustling through the trees. The colorful leaves may in fact be one of the best parts of fall. Making leaf piles is one of the things I look forward to every year! (Besides, it’s a good place to hide so you can prank your friends.)

The various traditions and festivals that are associated with fall are what make fall such a special season. What is fall without Halloween? Those two just go hand in hand. I mean, what is Halloween without fall? I remember, one year, my friends and I were so dedicated to trick or treating that we weathered a freezing downpour just to keep going. Granted we were probably a twenty minute walk from my friend’s house, so we didn’t have much of a choice, but still, my point remains! Last year I felt a little old to be trick or treating, so my friend and I sat in my family room, watched scary movies, ate candy from the candy bowl, and answered the door for trick-or-treaters. Let me tell you, that was just as fun as trick or treating itself. Halloween can be whatever you want it to be. That’s what makes it so special, that as well as the fact that it’s the only acceptable time of year to binge watch scary movies on Netflix, drink copious amounts of pumpkin spice latte, and consistently freak yourself out with ghost stories and unsolved murders.

Once that has passed, you have Thanksgiving to look forward to: big turkey dinners, the Macy’s day parade, and football. It’s an American tradition. It’s a time of family, camaraderie, apple pie, scented pine cones, cinnamon sticks, and fake brightly colored leaves to decorate the house. It’s a time to get together and be happy without worrying about work or school, and it’s the last day before the Christmas season starts. Then, you have something else to look forward to.

From the beginning of fall right up until the bitter end, there’s something to enjoy and be happy about whether it’s clothes, food, scary things, family, or the weather. So enjoy autumn while it lasts because it only comes around once a year.