OLD POST ALERT!
Yes, things have been quite crazy, and will likely be so over the next few weeks. We just got back from my father-in-law's funeral in Florida. After 40 hours of driving across US, do I have something to say about America's infrastructure. And that, overall, is infinitely better than the dumpster fire that is Ohio's. That will be for another time. This is, I believe, the first real Autumn Post, which for many years became a feature here at ol'Daffey Thoughts. I had posted some brief nods about Autumn or things I like about Autumn before this. But I think this was the first real unpacking of the season and why I love it. So here it is. The boys have grown and are moving on, our youngest just got his driver permit. And quite frankly, not a few family members who were still around and taking part in the festivities when I posted this are no longer with us, or able to take part due to health or age. Such is Autumn and that odd mixture of beauty and impermanence that defines the time and symbolizes our time on Earth in general. Anyhoo, a blast from the past:
Despite everything going on in our lives, I must admit, at least it's all happening during my favorite time of the year. The difficulties are making it hard to fully enjoy this time as I'm inclined to do, but I figure it could be worse, it could be in the middle of Summer.
I know, as a good Catholic Christian, my favorite time of the year should be Easter. Or even Christmas without the shopping malls. But I confess, it's really autumn. Why, I can't tell you. Perhaps because that old rusty clock that was set to start afresh every new school year still chimes somewhere in the back of my mind. Perhaps it's memories of days gone by, when we came back together with friends, when the crisp air of fall meant sitting in the chill autumn breeze at the Friday night games. Maybe it is memories of bonfires and apple cider, of homecoming parades and Tricks or Treating. I don't know. I just know this season has always been my favorite.
There are practical reasons. As a kid, even though I had to endure the school side of things, I knew that in only a couple of months that Holiday to end all Holidays would be approaching with all its promised glory. Plus, being a December baby, I knew I got the extra hors d'oeuvres that was a few early presents to whet my appetite.
But whatever the reason, the remaining memories I cling to from years gone by invariably have steamed windows blocking out a rainy Thanksgiving day, wading through snow on our way to our end of the football season band concert, or running through corn fields in October, with Jack O' Lanterns shining out of windows, secretly trying to find someone's house to decorate. It's training for Cross Country in the late afternoon by running through the explosion of colors in a park's woods, or walking with my Mom and Dad in a gentle September drizzle through some remote plot of land that Dad was thinking of purchasing, looking for walnuts to take home.
Those are where most of my memories from childhood linger. As an adult, with kids making their own memories, I can't help but admit I'm partial to those we've made in September and the following months. But when you have kids, the memories begin to be special no matter what the season, as long as it's with them.
So happy autumn. May yours bring more blessings than this will for us, but may I be proven wrong and have more than a commercially dominated holiday at the end of the year to be thankful for when all is said and done.
I 100% agree with you on autumn being the best season. Something about the newness of a new school year with harvest time- a wrapping up of summer's work, and the anticipation of holidays to come...also, it's just gorgeous if you live in a place where leaves change! I can't tell you how it makes my heart happy to start seeing leaves on the ground again or cascading to the ground with a burst of wind. It's like a mix of beginnings and endings all at once. Melancholy and the joy of anticipation all together.
ReplyDeleteWe are in a familial lull currently holiday-wise. Last year the last great-grandparent died, and my baby born in late fall was the only child never to have met one. Holidays at my MIL's are pretty much just us and my husband's sister's family now. I miss the extended part of the family getting together as we did in years past, but I know once my kids start forming their own families holiday gatherings will expand again. At least, fingers crossed it happens, LOL
We're there, too. So many of the old traditions have faded. Partly because we've lost family members who used to make them work, and sometimes because the places aren't there anymore. But we're seeing how new ones develop, and how the kids will build their own in the years to come. So far, that seems to be a fine trade off.
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