Autumn is in both his plus and minus columns

The past weekend made one thing clear: Autumn has arrived.

The weather has cooled significantly. The sun disappears before 8 p.m. Life's rhythms have returned. The start of school, not the start of January, signifies a new year.

There's a certain excitement whenever the seasons change. Even as hideous as snow is, the first snowfall is usually warmly greeted. The first white blanket covers up the brown and gray of late fall.

Now, the green of summer is slowly being eroded by the neutral colors of fall.

Not that it's all bad. Each season has its pluses and minuses. Following are some benefits and downsides of autumn:

Plus: The leaves turning color are beautiful.

Minus: The fallen leaves make it difficult to find your golf ball.

Plus: It's church supper season.

Minus: It's Pepto-Bismol season from overeating at church suppers.

Plus: The UND Sioux begin playing football.

Minus: The Minnesota Vikings begin playing football.

Plus: You move the lawn mower from the garage to the shed.

Minus: You move the snowblower from the shed to the garage.

Plus: Less humidity.

Minus: Less of an excuse to drink a beer for relief from humidity.

Plus: With school in session, you know where your teenager is for at least seven hours of the day.

Minus: With school in session, you have to put up with incessant whining about homework.

Plus: Sugar beets are trucked to the plants, meaning money soon will be arriving for our rural folks.

Minus: Sugar beets are trucked to the plants, meaning stink soon will be returning for our urban folks.

Plus: There are homecoming dances to chaperone.

Minus: There are homecoming dresses to buy.

Plus: Hunting the woods for upland game.

Minus: Hunting your closet for long pants.

Plus: UND students return to Grand Forks after summer vacations.

Minus: Radio talk show hosts return to the airways after summer vacations, some of which involve scuffles.

Bakken reports on local news and writes a column. Reach him at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or rbakken@gfherald.com .