Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Thoughts Turn to Autumn



When I was a school girl, the Labor Day BBQ marked the end of a carefree Summer. No more endless hours of barefoot bike rides or long, lazy days to dream. All the summer whites were put away. Though Autumn is not officially here yet, her calling card is out and about! We have had lots of cool rain over the last several days. The mornings are fabulous with breezes. Birds are beginning to fly further south, and squirrels are busily adding to their stash! Leaves are letting go of their perches. What loveliness for the taking! Many things have changed in the 40 something years since those Labor Day BBQ's...Now our schools start the second week in August... I spy white jeans long after they should be in storage. (Is that just a Southern rule?) But, nature...precious nature always gives her best at the same time each year. Her colors are just the right hue to make one feel cozy and so blessed! Looking back, I don't think that I ever fully appreciated this season until I reached my mid-40's. Then, magically, just like the quotes below, I realized that Autumn celebrates that graceful season of life where each leaf is a reflection and each color is a new attitude! (Photo "reposted" from July)


No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne

Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.
~Samuel Butler

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
~Albert Camus

2 comments:

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

What a beautifully written autumn dreamlike post! Really brought me back to the "good old days" of end of summer, school starting, and packing away the white clothing. But especially the memory of times that were easier, breezier, and not quite loved enough at the time. Thanks for the memories!

Teresa aka Tess said...

I still can't wear white after Labor Day. It's just not right and I'm from the central States; Illinois, Missouri, Kansas. So it's not just a Southern thing.
I too can remember school started the Wed. after Labor Day and the excitement of telling what we got from the Sears or Penney's catalog to start school with. Each cousin trying to outdo the next at the family picnic. The showing off of our new school shoes on the Sunday before Labor Day, what wonderful memories. Thanks!