This morning I flung open the door of my dorm building and began speed walking to my 9 am econ class. I was wearing shorts and a sleeveless top in anticipation of the sweltering sunshine and humidity that I’d been accustomed to for the past three months. However, as soon as my sandaled feet hit the sidewalk, a cool breeze picked up, rustling the leaves above my head, and a cascade of crimson foliage swirled down around me. The air was dry and chilly. The sky was an overcast gray in the spooky way that makes me want to try on Halloween costumes.

It was then that I realized that it had finally come: the blessed time of year – Pumpkin Spice Latte season.

Yesterday I couldn’t have stepped outside without breaking a sweat, but overnight, the world had become a new, sweet cinnamon-scented wonderland. Images of cozy sweaters, fuzzy socks, and the beloved pumpkin danced in my head. Throughout my next three classes, I could hardly focus as I thought of only one thing: how am I going to get my hands on a PSL?

After changing into a more fall appropriate outfit, I texted friends with cars entreating them to take me to Starbucks. While there is a coffee shop on campus, I didn’t trust the student workers with such a magical experience (no offense, you guys save me on a daily basis).

The first PSL of the year is practically a holiday and I wanted the full on Starbucks ambiance complete with soothing jazzy music and overpriced cups. After several people responded that they simply didn’t have time to indulge my basic white girl impulses, I finally managed to round up two friends who wanted to make the journey with me. Unfortunately, none of us had access to a vehicle so we were left with one option: to walk. For us devoted PSL lovers it was a no brainer. Luckily the Starbucks is not far from campus. We frolicked and laughed as we trekked towards our promise land. After crossing two busy streets, getting honked at while stuck on a median between lanes of rush hour traffic, and posting several snap stories of our perils, we finally made it to the designated shopping center.

There, nestled between a Lilly Pulitzer boutique store and a Pure Barre studio, shone Starbucks. The green siren smiled down on us as we crossed the threshold. Immediately the caffeinated aroma greeted us and we headed straight to the trendy barista to order our long awaited PSLs. The first sip was just as creamy, spicy, and sweet as I’d remembered. It was nothing short of divine. After draining the last drops, we returned to campus feeling satisfied and ready to embrace autumn and all the pumpkin spice goodness that accompanies it.