Cheshvan, the month that smells like wet leaves

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan today. Cheshvan has no holidays at all; after the whirlwind of Tishrei it's just... weeks. Some people call it Mar-Cheshvan, the bitter month.

But my study group spent last night in Sefer Yetzirah, which gives every month a letter, a sign and a sense. Cheshvan gets the letter Nun, the sign Akrav (Scorpio), and the sense of smell. And Berachot 43b says smell is the one pleasure the soul enjoys and the body doesn't.

So that's my practice for a month without holidays: noticing. Wet leaves on the walk to shul. Woodsmoke from the neighbor's chimney. Challah at 4pm on a Friday. Not a holiday, but holy enough.