There is something about an October sky, so clear and so blue. The brilliant colors of turning leaves create a striking contrast to the cerulean blue. Early last week we had such a day, ahead of a severe drop in temperature and a long, soaking rain. Rain turning to snow is what they had predicted, but fortunately, we were spared from the white stuff. We had our first fall frost on the 13th, nearly a month later than our “average first fall frost.” We are seeing more and more evidence of global warming. We are heading back into the 70℉’s today and into Indian summer; which to be politically correct, we now refer to as second summer.
Second summers are a gift bestowed by the gods. We are given extra time to complete our preparations for the long months of winter. For me, this is the time to get garlic and spring flowering bulbs tucked snugly into the fertile earth. It is the time to make an extra effort to appreciate the present moment. It is the perfect time to take long walks and feel the sun’s warmth on my face.
When I was growing up, fall was the time to delve into deep cleaning. Windows were washed in order to have a clear view out of them while winter weather kept us house bound. It was the time to store summer bedding and pull out the warm blankets and quilts. We traded our sleeveless summer nightgowns for flannels.
I still try to uphold some of those fall traditions; but I am taking time to enjoy the October sky and to listen for the Sandhill cranes as they fly overhead to reach their wintering grounds. The thought crossed my mind this morning: what if this is the last autumn I will ever see? None of us knows how much “time” we have. Now that I am in my 70s, I know it is more important than ever to savor the moments. I am in the autumn of my life, the time for slowing down and the time to revel in second summers.
