With Thanksgiving around the corner, the Washoe County Health District is urging residents not to gather with people outside of their household. Hudson Heimerman is a student at Reno High School and a reporter for the KUNR Youth Media Program. In this audio postcard, he reflects on how this fall feels different and what he misses the most.
I've always associated fall with happy memories that I've gotten from making observations around me, like hearing the leaves rustle as a gust of wind passes, [and] seeing the trees turn colors. There’s such a distinct smell in the air from all the leaves on the ground, combined with the cool, brisk air.
I always think of the changing of seasons to be poetic, almost. Personally, I don’t feel that it’s just the environment changing around us, but people as well. For instance, summer brings the most out of people, I think. It’s time to go outside, play in the water, enjoy some ice cream while basking in the sunlight. It’s all just very energetic. [During] fall you start getting that at-home feeling, I want to say.
Whenever fall comes around, you have, if you’re a student, fall break, Thanksgiving [and] Hanukkah. All of those are really fun holidays meant to be spent with family and friends, but this year with COVID I feel like a lot of that is either restricted or lost.
Just recently, I had to miss my cousin's wedding in Tennessee because my family couldn’t travel, so we weren’t put at risk. I felt horrible telling her that I had to miss such an important moment in her life because of COVID.
Fall is time to see family and friends. I can’t imagine a single fall holiday where I haven’t seen my grandparents, rejoiced with family friends and whatnot. There’s just so much good that comes with it. For a lack of better words, everything is so melodramatic with a hint of melancholy right now; I understand that with COVID and everything, but it’ll be an understatement to say that COVID has taken an emotional toll on people.
It’s hard to believe that last year I was running around with friends on Halloween and seeing family on Thanksgiving. It all just seems so surreal now. I feel that this fall is just a lot more quiet. I'm not feeling that same fall spirit as I used to. I’m just going to make it a goal to bring some positive energy this fall. I’m going to try to shed a little light in all the dark that’s going on, I guess.
KUNR's Youth Media program is a special partnership with the Washoe County School District to train the next generation of journalists.
KUNR's Jayden Perez adapted this story for web.
