09.10.16

“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach.” -Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The major trees are just now lightening up–the rogue Aspen against our front porch shows no visible signs of Fall.  There is a whole Autumn season to savor, go slow go slow.  Afraid I’ll miss something, I sometimes feel this insatiable longing, a greed, and think I can collect all the beautiful leaves and waters and skies and mountains.  All week, there have been rain showers and blustery winds–so Irish, as my Irish friend, Carol, remarked as we stood against the gales on the western side of the lake.  We were on a photography walk together, which has to be one of the loveliest ways to ‘collect all the beautiful shells’.  Just walking along, noticing a ray of light on a yellow flower, clouds reflected in water, bands of sunshine in the distance.  All the time, the Standing People trees are rustling over our heads and the waves are washing over rocks.  These are the things that will soften you into sleep in the middle of a dark night.

The NOAA forecast for today says, “Today will be a spectacular Fall day!” followed by big winds from the north tomorrow afternoon and night, blowing in frost-producing lows.  I already feel a certain restlessness of the heart to take it all in.  Maya Angelou wrote, “There is a very fine line between loving life and being greedy for it.”  Poets through the ages have talked about the heart-breaking beauty of Autumn, and our need to possess it, with Winter hiding around the corner.  ‘Tis the season, ’tis the season.