October is a month of transition. Our world transforms from the heat, sunshine, and abundant harvests of summer to the more gentle beauty of pumpkins, chrysanthemums and falling leaves. I have always loved the colors of autumn, which last such a short time before the starkness of November is upon us.
My weekends have been full this autumn -- a family gathering at a cousin's lovely home on Helderberg Lake, trips with the grandchildren to gaily decorated farmstands, an afternoon in Saratoga with a dear cousin. Finally, this weekend is a quiet one -- a time when I can catch my breath, putter in the house and garden, and reminisce a bit.
Halloween decorations are abundant in our neighborhoods now, and I am reminded of the days when my children were young and I devoted so much time to making their holiday special. We decorated the porch with pumpkins, cornstalks, and a skeleton or two. I baked pumpkin cookies for school parties, planned parties for our Cub Scouts and Brownie Troops, and sewed costumes. I marvel at the energy I had all those years ago.
Now, my celebrations are of a quieter nature. I look forward to the church bazaars and estate sales that abound. I have traded the decorations of Halloween for lovely autumn arrangements inside the house. I cut my bounty of summer herbs -- parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, basil -- and hang them in my kitchen window to dry. I savor the falling leaves and the crackling noise they make as I walk along. Today they were falling quietly all day -- carpeting my yard with their beauty.
My years of boundless energy and strength are in the past -- I am in the autumn of my life. But, this, too, is a beautiful time. While my days are very busy caring for my grandchildren, at the end of the day, I can enjoy a glass of wine, a tasty supper, and a quiet evening. My weekend pursuits are simple ones -- afternoons with friends, cooking, reading, writing, puttering in the house or the garden. I am finding this "autumn" season of life every bit as beautiful as the days of October.
