The Autumns of my Life

I just enjoyed a wonderful fall stroll back to the office after reading my book at the local Starbucks over the noon hour…as I crossed the street I witnessed a shower of leaves falling to the sidewalk like rain.  Today the sun actually IS shining and this reflected off the leaves as they fell….and then I observed the whirlwind scattering of them in all directions as they hit the ground.

I see women wearing tights with their skirts and boots and sweaters and jackets…and know that autumn is upon us…fully engaged.  I mean it is September 22!  I do love fall…in New York, in Calgary, in a small hick town or in the country.  I have experienced autumn in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Portland, Colorado, Texas, Kelowna and everywhere I go their rings a familiarity…the colors of the landscape, the crispness in the air, the hyperactivity all of  sudden….I thrive on the hyperactivity.  That is why I am a city girl…although I could be just as satisfied on a farm, bringing in the harvest and baking bread and apple pies and canning bounty for the winter.

One my favorite activities in the past has always been to attend the Heritage Park Fall Farmers Market where one has to take several wagons and line up at 6:00 in the am (with an extra hot Starbucks in hand) just to get a good parking spot and to get in the gate before everything is completely ravaged.  Then return home to start the preservation process.  What a wonderful feeling to see the freezer full of pies and the shelves stocked with brightly colored jars.  One of my favorite events was the making of the salsa…usually with a friend as it was a lot of work and the bounty plenty.  I love the smell of tomatoes cooking (the same aroma I experience every morning when I arrive at work and Mercato’s already has started their tomato sauce for the day)…and then the tasting afterwards when the salsa is still hot and the taco chips are fresh.  Even cleaning up the incredible red mess splashed all over the kitchen can’t get me down after a day like that usually spent in good company.

I also cherished my quilting afternoons with the ‘Material” girls and our fall quilt retreats at a quaint bed and breakfast we discovered.  Somehow, quilting speaks to me of getting warm coverings ready for the long cold winter….it just felt like something good I was doing for my family and I loved doing it as well.  Loved creating these masterpieces of art and warmth.

Autumn means I can turn on the fireplace again and have already.  Nothing like sitting by the fireplace in your UGGS reading a good book or reading magazines and sipping on a Tazo Chai listening to Kenny G as you hear either the rain pouring outside or the wind whipping against the side of the house.

Many a joyful walk home from school – in my school days – were spent crunching the leaves underfoot and playing in them.  Collecting the prettiest ones and bringing them home to press.  Actually I already did that this year…I collected red Maple leaves from the Trinity university campus to use for Thanksgiving since we don’t have Maple trees in Alberta.  Sigh!

Gone are the days of buying school supplies and new clothes for school…even as my own kids are now graduated.  I guess that is why I wanted to go to University with Andrew and buy him groceries and clothes and help set up his room.  The Trinity campus is so….movie-esqueish….so I make up my own words.  I guess this is why I am tempted to buy myself new clothes in the fall (any excuse works really)…some new tights, new boots, new jacket…it takes me back to my childhood.  Its always nice to sew a couple of things as well as this is usually what my mother did for us.

New activities, new opportunities (yes I WILL practice the piano everyday this year – HA), new ministries and of course the anticipation of my favorite event of the year – Christmas.  Looking forward to digging out those Christmas decorations and decorating the new house…but I am getting ahead of myself..that is another post for another day.

I work fulltime now so many of these activities have ceased for a season…but when I retire I will take them up again….there is a time for everything and right now working is what is required of me but I can enjoy the autumn through the window of my office and my walks back and forth to Starbucks…I can dress for fall and I can sit by the fireplace at home and read….so I don’t really feel I am missing out on anything.  I have already enjoyed all these experiences and they have made the colors of my life brighter and richer. And if I need a hit of fall atmosphere I can just drop by my local Pottery Barn and pick up a fall catalogue or soak up the seasonal decor.  Selah!