I love October days. The opposite of April, when we are impatiently waiting for the balmy days of summer to return; in October, we savor the pleasant, slightly cool, but colorful days. Many of the vibrantly colored leaves hang on, providing sharp contrast to the bright, azure sky. Each lovely October day feels like summer’s parting gift, often bittersweet in its reminder that winter is imminent. By November, almost all of the leaves will have fallen, except for the oaks that often persist until new spring growth pushes them out.
Spring fever is well known; when we often want to stop whatever we are doing and take in the approaching first days of warmth. Spring is often fickle; however, teasing us with its beauty one day and dropping wet snow on us the next. I believe that autumn fever is just as real as that of spring. I am tired from the labor intensive chores of the garden, but I am reluctant to go inside. I have a strong urge to simply sit and enjoy the changing colors, or to watch the birds and squirrels as they prepare for cold weather, or for migration.
My body is willing me to slow down and I am unsure if it is only the season, or my advancing years. As I sit here waiting for words to flow, I find myself simply staring out the window. A junco briefly landed in the tree, but then flew off. I usually only see them just before a snow storm; but the weather is unnaturally warm for October and there is no precipitation in sight for the coming week. I wonder if the birds are confused by our strange weather and if the smoke from the wildfires burns their eyes and throats as it does mine. How many thousands have had to flee their forest homes? Will I see more birds here this fall and winter because they have nowhere else to go? I wish that, like the birds, I was busy preparing for the coming months; but we are in the middle of a pandemic and future plans for many people are on hold. Like the birds, we are vigilant, ready to take flight, or to fight, whatever comes our way. For today, I am grateful that I can simply enjoy a beautiful October day.
