The End of Autumn
“Double, double, toil and trouble/ Fire burn and caldron bubble,” wrote William Shakespeare in Macbeth. Do you think of Halloween when you reflect on autumn? Or football? Or colorful leaves? Or Thanksgiving turkey? Or Native People whose land was seized long ago?
Right now, I’m wondering if fall will ever end! We’ve had no measurable snow in Denver as of today—an all-time record for the latest first snowfall. Supposed to go up to 70 degrees today! But no matter, I love so many things about this season: the taste of acorn squashes glistening with butter, the flavor of gingerbread with a dollop of whip cream, the cheer in cool apple cider, and Mcintosh apples with their crisp snap at first bite. And I must confess, apple cider donuts—Yum!
I love cheering for grandchildren, one playing fall baseball, another running cross-country. These athletes’ devotion and passion for their sport shines in their faces filled with determination and grit to hone their talent. Winning is good too! Their enthusiasm is contagious.
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I love cooler days and walking with a scarf around my neck and leaves crinkling underfoot. Thankfully, the summer fires and smoke are gone, replaced by the flame of crimson maple and golden aspen leaves, brilliant against our green mountain forests. Late flowers, ginger-color chrysanthemums, and dusky pink stonecrop hold their own despite frosty nights. Chipmunks cross my path. Their cheeks bulge with seeds and dried berries—storing them for winter hibernation.
I love to gaze at geese forming V-shaped armadas in the sky as they fly south, taking turns as leader of the flock. Evening comes early, and long shadows form as the sun creates fire on the western horizon by 5:30 pm. Finches scramble for their last meal of the day at my feeder. Our squirrels scour the deck for seeds dropped by birds. Neighborhood kids push their bicycles into garages and trudge inside. Warm indoors, I ponder a longer evening for more of my favorite things: reading, sewing, streaming shows, and writing.
Even though I love all Colorado has to offer in autumn, there is no ocean here. This is the best time to travel to the sea. After being boosted and wearing n95 masks, we flew to the East Coast. We loved our walks with the sanderlings and sea gulls, waves rolling up on beaches in Maine and South Carolina.
I’d love to know what you like about autumn. As you reflect on that, please view my YouTube video about my autumn. Just click on the link. Thanks!
