Monday, September 23, 2013

Ode to Autumn

It's autumn. Oh, that most glorious of seasons, with the hint of spice in the breeze, the promise of harvest, the tantalizing glimpses of chilly evenings snuggled under a blanket with a book and a cup of hot chocolate. I love the crispness in the air and how summer tries to keep its tentacles in us for just one.more.week, yet autumn will not allow it (thank goodness). The earth begins to settle, to realize that a good, long slumber awaits, that a time for nesting and cuddling and cozying lies ahead.

To celebrate the season, I put pumpkins on my front step tonight and put my autumn Snoopy flags up (yes, I have a Snoopy flag for every month!). I scattered acorns and leaves on living room surfaces, replaced old candles with new, and savored the cool breeze coming through the door as I worked.

Autumn is here.

This is when I, too, begin to get comfortable, to wrap the cocoon of introversion around me even tighter, and to savor my moments at home. I delve into my writing, connect with my words in a way that I just can't manage to do in the summer, and bask in how the season permeates everything around me. Yes, there is pumpkin-flavored everything, but there's also long, comfy sweaters, and worn jeans, and heavy socks and slippers.

Autumn is a season that embraces you. It tells you to slow down, to listen, to look, to savor, smell, and touch its every facet. Autumn encourages you to relax, to get comfortable, and enjoy all that life offers.

The depth of winter, those months after Christmas, turns us hard, makes us bitter in many ways, as we scoop snow or have our cheeks pelted with ice or wait for the car heater to just get warm already.

Spring encourages us to emerge and breathe, to open our arms and dance, to delight. To experience renewal.

Summer tells us to go faster, to do it all, cram in every last experience. Seize the moment. Summer is fleeting! Sail the boat, take the vacation, go camping, go swimming, have get-togethers, barbecue, again and again, and then once more because summer won't last forever! And it doesn't, and when it ends, we are exhausted.

And then comes autumn.

"Come," she says, her voice quiet and sure. "It is time for you to stop. To look. To really see."

You go to her, hesitant, unsure whether to leave the siren call of summer behind. But then, autumn smiles and throws a beautiful blend of all that encompasses her into the air where it shimmers and shines like fairy dust. It's a blend of apples and pumpkins and acorns, of scattering leaves and glowing candles, of brisk air and thick quilts, of love and softness and warmth and family.

Yes, you think. This is what you need, what you crave. You want to see.

And it is autumn that opens your eyes.







12 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:12 PM

    I agree wholeheartedly Melissa! I adore autumn! There is nothing better than the smell of the crisp air, the sound of the combines and the taste of everything apple and pumpkin. Every year I patiently look forward to Fall - especially if the summer is overly hot and humid. My closet also reflects my love of this season with all its sweaters, light scarves and moccasins. Your words perfectly summed up my feelings!

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    1. Thanks, Jess! This is the BEST time of the year. Everything just comes alive for me. Here's hoping you have a WONDERFUL autumn!

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  2. I adore autumn, unfortunately it is too short. Last year we had snow by halloween.

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    1. I am definitely not ready for snow!

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  3. An L. M. Montgomery quote: "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." :) I love this season, too... I've been devouring apple-y and pumpkin-y food, and I think I could know complete happiness if only I had a cat to curl up by my feet in front of the fire. Oh, and maternity clothes that were actually autumn-appropriate. I'm surviving on two sweaters and a pair of jeans!

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    1. Oh! I didn't know you were expecting, Faith! Congratulations!

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  4. Lovely images and smells and flavors and thoughts. Autumn weather hasn't started where I live but after reading your post, I say, "Bring it on!" I will enjoy it more as a result of reading your words.
    Linda

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    1. Thank you, Linda. :) We had high temps here today so it wasn't as fall-like, but I hope the cool temps get here and stay here!

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  5. What a beautifully written post! I can smell autumn even though I'm sitting here amongst the trappings of spring. Your decorations with pumpkins and acorns sounds fun, and so does your Snoopy flag!

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    1. I love my Snoopy flags! That's one way I tell people how to identify my house - look for the Snoopy flag on the front step!

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  6. This is beautifully written.

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