Ah autumn. I've written a lot on my love for this time of the year. To many times to link to. Truth be told, things like that seem less important in recent years. That doesn't mean I don't care about it anymore. It just means things change.
This year has been a bit strange. Of course it must be global warming. Everything is. In fact, my sons were talking a few weeks ago and they asked if the news was always this way. That is, everything is apocalyptic, everything is the first, historic, unprecedented, in any way possible the worst, or what have you. I said the press has always wanted that headline grabber, but I do think we're at a new level where everything is the most of anything all the time. So it's tough to sift through what is and isn't unusual on some significant level.
This year, the weather has been wonky. They say it's Ohio's worst drought since we've been keeping records. Meanwhile, toward the end of August, it got very 'Fall-ish.' Temperatures dropped in those dog days of summer, the sky was overcast, and it had a genuine feeling of fall.
I think that made the next several weeks through September seem all the more intolerant as they shifted and the heat swept in, with day after day near or above 90, while no rain, no rain, and no rain again. So this last week, despite it still being a bit warm for this time of year, things seemed truly fall like after the heat had one last hurrah.
Because of schedules and changes for the boys, their school and jobs and visiting CEOs and my wife's own work events of the last week or two, we had the chance for three of the boys and me to go out like old times. I wish our fourth had been with us, but just getting out and about with the three of them requires the planets aligning in ways that verges on the miraculous, so I can't be picky.
On that last day of sweltering heat, we visited a travelling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I visited the real McCoy years ago, and our oldest - still in public school at the time - went to Washington DC and also experienced it. This was a chance for the others to take it all in. Not just the memorial, but when the memorial was built from a different age and time, when reconciling and putting past grievances behind us was a dominant cultural mandate of the day.
Then came the weather change, and it was to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Columbus, then eating out for lunch, and finally a jaunt around Columbus to find some historic sites for furthered education and broadening of minds. This was accomplished by looking for those remnants of the Mound Builders, a pithy designation for American Indians who - guess what - built earthen mounds. They must have been plentiful in these parts, because there seems no shortage of reminders of their ancient presence.
Then it was back home, and getting back into things. My wife was home that day, which allowed my mom to be taken care of while the rest of us explored. Again, it isn't easy getting even a couple together. So when we do, it's cherish the moment and the memories, and hopefully what lessons from old memorials ancient and new we can learn.
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| One of several displays at the Memorial from the period, no doubt a blast from the past for those who served. |
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| Without anyone in the family who fell (though two served), we looked up the one veteran from my home town who was killed in action. |
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| The boys contemplate the wall and come away with their usual insightful observations and musings. I was taken by the old emphasis on 'we must reconcile and put the past behind us.' Another world. |
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| The Harvest Moon was bright - even a man who is pure in heart they say. |
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| With leaves down and blowing through the air, it looked more autumn-like than the warm temps would suggest |
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| We went to Mass at the Columbus Cathedral, then ate out together Then decided to look for some Indian Mounds scattered about the city |
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| Details of Mound #1 |
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| It doesn't look like much, but if you ponder that we're looking at something that has stood for thousands of years - not bad. |
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| The historical information marker for Mound #2 |
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| The second mound had a little more around it, including a surrounding stone fence that looked like it was lifted from the Irish countryside. |
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| I've often said their best pictures are taken while they're getting ready for the picture to be taken. Though what my youngest was doing is beyond me |
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| The long sleeves, the clouds, perfect fall. Our fourth son's absence was felt, but beggars and choosers. Just getting out with the three of them at this time is almost herculean in the logistics involved. |
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| Returning from our outing to a nice fall scene. Many of the leaves are actually just dead from the drought, but it does strike a nice autumnal feel. |
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| Gratuitous daughter-in-law and little angel eyes pic! |
(Tom New Poster)
ReplyDeleteI see Baby is starting to notice the camera. Cutie!
We've had a cool September here just south of San Francisco. I remember sweltering early falls as a kid, but days above 70s have become less common and days above 80 rare. We've had no real rain (and never do this month), but some drippy fogs that used to start later in the year.
Yes, she already seems to perk up when the cameras are around! As for the climate, here in these parts the summers have been a mix, with some hot but many mild. Our winters are certainly more mild, while sometimes fall can become hot (the old Indian Summers on steroids). Springs are the same, if not shorter. So climate change? Oh yeah. Why and what to do about it - more of a discussion than many would admit.
DeleteWell I dare say that's the most adorable smile I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteOh it's a heart-melter. Tough to resist, and I foresee her getting much from her granddad whose resistance levels will be highly suspect.
DeleteFrom memories growing up, I can recall snowflakes by the end of September. Now I feel like the seasons have shifted by a month. Fall doesn't begin until October, and we don't get a "real" winter until January, and it lasts through March. April, May and June are spring, and summer weather is July, August & September. And when you read the Little House books you can hardly count on the weather extremes they got, thankfully! Even though they had winters with little to no snow as well. (Followed by locusts...which are extinct now). I agree, there is something to the changing of the climate, but what will many of the proposed solutions actually do about it? And do we need to do anything about it save for adapt?
ReplyDeleteRegardless, babies are a delight, and I hope more of them find their way to your family in the coming years :)
Oh, the climate changes, as it always has. I recall hunting with Dad in November with several inches of snow on the ground. And of course multiple noteworthy blizzards in the 70s (the Blizzard of 78 being the most famous). A half foot of snow from December to the March thaws was hardly uncommon. By my recollection, that all stopped after Mount St. Helens erupted. Following that, winters became warm and muddy and sloppy, and never really went back. Again, climate changes. And I haven no doubt our continued obsession with STEM as the all saving answer to everything has had some negative side effects that have impacted many things including, but not limited to, the environment. But I simply can't not see the glaring difference between the science of climate change and the politics of Global Warming. Sadly, too few - including Church leaders and even conservatives - seem willing to acknowledge that.
DeleteBut you're also right. Babies bring a little light of God's love into the world, and into any family, and for that we are more than thankful.