By Mirren Bodanis

Editor-in-Chief

Dear Lovely Readers,

I hope everyone is coming well into a slower season. The shining, sprinting inspiration of summer is finally slowing to the cool, crackling breath of fall. As Montréalais, we get to watch the first leaves fall and think: “Wow, how fortunate am I that I get to live through the complete beauty brought on by four maximally distinct season, truly a privilege to have access to such a variety of weather that the unknowing Torontonian could never fathom!” Of course, by late November this enlarged perspective becomes worded more as “fuck this fucking place” once mittens and scarves become mandatory on the daily and the sun sets at 4:30pm. (Sorry for reminding you!)

Here, the cold comes in with the wind from all angles. Dressing, commuting, hanging out, schooling, not one corner of the world in each of our lives survives un-touched, un-frozen, un-bundled-up. When my morning commute goes from the lovely Bixi through the trees of Westmount to the now scum-and-salt covered floor of the 211, that’s when I know we’ve reached the other side of the year.

As what’s around us becomes more cold and grey we look at it less. There’s so much less to see, leaving only the things to do. Homework, study, stress. Hanging on white-nuckled to fork & knife during family dinners and scheduling museum outings because of their insipidness, they’re all there is to keep your head from drowning in snow. The confinement and rigidity can be scarily depleting.

But NEVER forget that winter time… IS COZY TIME!!! :D!!! Hot chocolate! Blankets! TV shows! Movies with friends! Books! Video games! In the summer, they make one lazy, but now it’s what the culture’s feeling. And the most beautiful part? All these rituals warm the soul tenfold when done together. Being locked inside together focuses our connection. There’s no outside to escape to, nothing to pull us away from every twitch, every giggle, every snort and every flirt of those dearest to us. Does that often lead to madness? Of course. But madness is amazing.

As the trees die, and their leaves cover our city in flame, don’t let it freeze your heart. Keep yourself alive. Keep your community alive, and they’ll reflect a shine stronger than any summer star. And don’t ignore what’s outside too. The screaming cold, the blasting snow, those can bring euphoria in their own way (when experienced in a safe space with consent). Take the exo13 line to Mont-Saint-Hilaire for a hike, let the harsh weather happen to you. When the leaves fall their souls rise out into the air, and pulling their breath into your lungs brings a rush of invigoration like no caffeine can provide.

Fall gives us more time to read. Not just books, or The Plant, but each other. Because when the wind comes from all angles, it pushes us closer together.

For better and for worse,

-Mirren Bodanis

Editor-in-Chief