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One for the Road Monday was the perfect day to think about the summer season winding down, with the remnant of Tropical Storm Lee making its way up the East Coast, dumping tons of rain along the way. Temperatures in the high 60s gave us the first real taste of fall. It was a wonderful day to put on a pot of vegetable soup, using the last of summer’s vegetable bounty, and letting the heady aroma drift through the house. The few remaining hummers buzzed around through the showers, picking off bugs and looking for blooms that are mostly gone. The squirrels were holed up somewhere, maybe snacking on the nuts they’ve already put up for the winter. Fall of the year has always been my favorite season, with the cooler days and the beautiful colors that spread out over the mountains, making the countryside look like a bowl of Froot Loops. I revel in the cooler temperatures and the beautiful sunlight slanting through the trees, turning everything to gold. But since hitting my mid-sixties, I’ve taken a different perspective on fall. I’ve always known the season would give us its glory and then usher in winter, which I also love. Then comes spring, with its riotous growth of new life. Summer has never been a favorite; as I grow older, I have become less tolerant of the heat. When I was young, I took to the sun, letting it brown my skin and lighten my hair. Now I have to avoid its rays. I am in the fall of my life now, and it is proving to be a wonderful time. I’ve come to terms with many of my life’s inconsistencies and made peace with my soul. I have made friends with some of the most wonderful people in the world, each one holding a special place in my heart. I’m comfortable with myself and very much look forward to the winter of my life, when I can say goodbye to the last of my burdens and enter into eternal sleep; go on that final trip. I am not sad to think about leaving. I have led a full and interesting life, but I am tired. I don’t know for sure when the hummers finally head south but it can’t be too long from now. The last couple of weeks they have gone through the syrup in the feeder like it was the last thing left to eat in the neighborhood. I wasn’t going to fill it up again but began to feel guilty, knowing they would be taking off for Mexico soon and would need the extra energy to fuel the flight. So I will keep it full of stronger syrup until they no longer show up. I’ll give them one for the road and hope they make the trip with no trouble. |
