Playing the Weather Girl:
Chicago Forecast and the Liminality of Autumn
Christine Mayor
Having been raised in Bermuda, a place where we have “3 summers and a spring,” living in places with distinct seasons is a beautiful and strange experience. Two weeks ago, I stubbornly adorned my feet with flip flops, convinced my clothing choices might be able to stave off the colder weather. Today, I left my house bundled up in many layers, bracing myself for the brisk air and wind. As I write about the pending weather in Chicago, I am experiencing Toronto’s first snowfall this year.
Living in autumn is, for me, an experience in the liminal space. The brilliant colors of the leaves in the trees mark the passing time. Seeing my breath in the morning reminds of the winter to come. Increasing the items of clothing I am wearing adds an additional five minutes to getting ready. These changes make me constantly aware of the shifts happening in the world and the changes I am making, physically and psychically, in preparation for the long winter ahead.
Liminality is about standing in the threshold of two worlds or states. It is hardly surprising that autumn is filled with holidays to bring people (and play) together – Thanksgiving, Halloween, harvest festivals. Perhaps these are the structures of communitas – social structures of fellowship, warm contact and equality. We are only days away from our own ritual of coming together as a community, a conference timed in the seasonal threshold of summer and winter.
This blog gives you a tentative look at the weather for the week ahead in Chicago. For more up-to-date information, please check closer to your travel time. Hopefully this will give you a general picture for the conference. And the liminality of the season upon us.
For the Americans: Fahrenheit
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s F.
Thursday
Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s F.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of light rain showers and light snow showers. Lows in the mid 30s F.
Friday
Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of light rain showers. Highs in the mid 40s F.
Saturday
Mostly clear. Lows around 30 F. Highs in the mid 40s F.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy and milder. Lows in high 30s F. Highs in 50s F.
For the Rest of the World: Celsius
Wednesday
Cloudy. High 14C. Low 4 C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 30% chance of showers. High 8 C. Low 0 C.
Friday
Some clouds, mostly sunny. Brisk and chilly. High 7 C. Low -1 C.
Saturday
Clear, sunshine. High 9 C. Low 1 C.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. High 12 C. Low 3 C.
