The Red Leaf

There’s a commercial that runs on Canadian television this time of year featuring a close-up of a woman screaming in horror as she points to something off screen. Then the camera cuts to a shot of a maple leaf that’s turned from green to red.

I love that commercial because I am that woman.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love autumn. In fact, it’s my favorite time of the year. But despite all the things I love about it — antiquing on a crisp, sunny Saturday, eating my body weight in fresh Macintosh apples, and shopping for this season’s coolest boots, to name just a few — there is one huge drawback. Autumn’s arrival means that the warm weather is behind us and then (dun, dun, dun...)

Well, you get the picture.

Here in Toronto, a sure sign that summer is coming to an end is the opening of the Canadian National Exhibition. It runs from late August to Labor Day and — cue the horrific red maple leaf — the CNE started yesterday.

I was there for the opening night. My husband and I had tickets to a Radiohead concert, which took place at an outdoor amphitheater on a man-made island in Lake Ontario that is linked to the CNE by several bridges. The venue is called Ontario Place. (Sandy spent a couple of summers working there as a pedal boat wrangler. But hey, that’s the subject of another blog!)

As for Radiohead, the concert was fantastic. When we heard the band was coming to Toronto last spring, I was disappointed that we could only get tickets for the lawn that surrounds the theatre, as opposed to the assigned seating that’s under cover. The lawn “seats” became an increasing worry the closer we got to the concert because Toronto seems to have acquired a monsoon season. We’ve had thunder storms nearly every day this summer and last night was no exception. It was pouring during our dinner in a café near the exhibition grounds.

But as we made our way to Ontario Place, the bad weather began to lift.

And by the time we got to the lawn (more of a muddy field at this point) I was thrilled by our tickets. The night was clear, the band was amazing, and although it would have been nice to be closer to the stage, the backdrop of our city made the night more special.

Special enough to make me forget—at least for awhile—that the days are getting shorter and another great summer is almost over!

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