FALL IS N THE AIR

 

Today, after a month in North Carolina…we became aware

to our mutual satisfaction that Fall is in the air.

The mornings have been chilly…and the leaves have begun to fall

as the trees of summer begin to change their colors before their final curtain call.

The leaves do not change colors or fall simultaneously…

I’m sure nature has her reasons… 

for allowing those of us who are watching…

to enjoy…the changing of the seasons.

Ash, Birch, Black Walnut, poplar and maple trees

Are where the first leaves tend to fall from…

They act as natures messengers…reminding us

of the beauty yet to come.

Nature helps these leaves who patiently await her signal in the trees

by allowing them to ride atop and end of summer breeze.

And they happily depart the trees…knowing they've been assigned

to announce that Fall is on her way…with winter close behind.

Yesterday an excited maple leaf jumped out of her tree

and, after floating on the breeze, landed next to me.

As I saw that little maple leaf…happily lying there

I thanked her for reminding me that Fall is in the air…

And thanked nature for taking the time…

to think of me for a moment…however brief

by air mailing my reminder

in the form of a maple leaf

FLOWER CHILDREN

 

 When we look into a garden of flowers…of it’s beauty we’re aware

but we may overlook the beauty of each flower growing there.

Yesterday was a special day…from sunrise to sunset…

when got to experience the beauty of a single rose…and one solitary violet.

It began early at a bakery when a curly haired little girl

showed us she cold stand on her tippy-toes

and Mom and Dad informed us…her name was Millie Rose.

As we walked to our cars together…Millie Rose…just for fun

asked, as children do, if we wanted to watch her run.

It made us smile…this brief encounter with this family we happened to meet

and as they drove away we waved at Millie Rose…who waved from the back seat.

Later in the day…for a couple hours…at a time her parents set… 

we were happy to spend some time with our great-granddaughter…Violet.

She smiled when she saw us…it was a wonderful way to start!

(It’s amazing how a simple smile can melt two people’s hearts?)

In that couple of hours together our whole day was enhanced…

as Nana, PopPop and Violet played and sang and danced…

And as we walked to our car…totally enamored by her charms

we watched Violet wave goodbye to us…while in her mother’s arms.

That evening when we had time to think…we were glad we chose

to visit that bakery after sunrise…and experience the beauty of a rose…

And equally as glad….before that same sun set…

for the first time…we had the chance 

to baby-sit our great-granddaughter…Violet.

And I thought if every child is like a flower

when they emerge from out their mother’s womb….

how every encounter we have with them

helps determine how beautifully they bloom.

A thought that occurred to me…on a day we will never forget…

when, while walking in a garden of children, 

we got to enjoy the beauty of a single rose and one solitary violet.

OLD TIMERS

 

When you hang around the mountains long enough 

you find them…In-groups of three or more….

Sitting around tables in restaurants or coffee shops

standing together outside of gas stations and stores.

They’re known as the ‘old timers’ and I imagine they’ve been meeting up for years

swapping stories about their families…

their wishes, their hopes, their dreams…their  fears.

Sharing with each other their opinions on everything under the sky…

willing to share those opinions with anybody who happens to pass by. 

If you’re lucky enough to listen in…

you might just learn something you didn’t know..

Like how the amount of rain we have in August…

determines how many days in winter it will snow.

You might hear little gems old timer’s lips will spawn

Like…if it get’s any hotter I’ll take off stuff I really ought to keep on.

But if you listen closely…listen past the words they say…

past whatever knowledge or folklore they are sharing…

you see old timers basking in the warmth friendship…

you see goodwill, harmony and caring.

It’s why I’ll sit at a table near old timers in a restaurant…

as a new day’s about to begin…

or when I see them out side a store…I’ll stop nearby and listen in….

It’s why I’ll eat my breakfast slowly…I’ll pause or halt my walk…

because it’s not so much what the old timers are saying

I just love to hear the talk.

BREAKFAST WITH A MOMMY DADDY

 

 As I was enjoying a breakfast smoothie on the porch the other morning

far from the distractions of TV, radio or cable

a singular daddy long legs joined me at our picnic table.

I am not an expert…not an arachnid authority or swami…

but from what little I know about  daddy long legs…

this daddy was a mommy.

I imagine she’s seen me every morning at this table sitting here

and through her arachnid instincts knew there was nothing she need fear.

She crawled right up to where I sat…and I watched her from my seat

as she felt around the table for something she could eat.

I was impressed with how she moved…with such ease and grace and class 

and I loved the way she inspected the smoothie in my glass

Next she walked across my crossword puzzle

and as I watched her my confidence was shaken…

when she pointed to 61 across and shook her head

as if my answer was mistaken.

And when I checked my answer…to her utter satisfaction and delight…

this long legged arachnid…to my dismay…was right!

So spent breakfast together…at the table…side by side…

I enjoyed my smoothie

while she continued finding whatever morsels our table would provide.

As  the two of us enjoyed our breakfast…

and the sun continued to rise

I returned my attention to my crossword puzzle…

under mommy long legs watchful eyes.

I’m hoping she comes back tomorrow…

to offer her company and share a bite or two…

and I’m interested to see if she’s as good at Wordle

as she is with crosswords too.

THE ROSE

 

Moving is a process…it comes with some anxiety and la ittle worry…

and you only to make things worse…if you‘re in a hurry.

 

So here we are a month after moving in…and from the porch where I am seated….

although we’ve come a long way…the process is yet to be completed…

We’ve been taking our time…arranging…rearranging…

balancing moving in…while still enjoying the day….

hyappy as we progress…to unpack memories along the way.

Yesterday as I was moving books around…

A rose that had been living in one book…tumbled to the ground.

“I know what that is!” the voice inside me said…

“It’s the boutonnière I wore the day Deborah and I were wed."

I quickly picked it up and gave a long hard look…

At the little rose that for years has been pressed between the pages of a book.

It has survived the years since I pinned it on…since our vows were originally spoken….

It was still in tact…it’s colors faded…but nothing’s damaged…nothing broken.

And although while it’s been in that book…38 years have gone…

to me it was as beautiful the day I pinned it on…

It was a symbol of our life together…since our vows were originally spoken….

How we’re  still in tact…our colors faded…but nothing’s damaged…nothing broken.

A reminder that since we said I DO…in the 38 years that have gone…

Our marriage is as beautiful…as the day I pinned it on.

LANTERNS IN THE SKY

 

Some mornings I rise around 4:00 AM…still in the dead of night

and quickly check if the sky is clear…so I can see the mountain light.

The first thing I do after waking is step out on our porch and stop…

to see if the there is an aura …a luminescence…appearing across the mountain top.

There are no city lights around…no source of light from above or below…

but when the sky is clear from where I stand…the mountains seem to glow.

There is a Cherokee legend that explains the reason why……

the glow I see are the spirits of fallen warriors lighting up the sky.

Or it could be light from the lanterns of grieving Cherokee woman

whose partners…from wherever they did roam…

be it a battle or a hunt…have never made it home.

Of course there is a scientific explanation…regarding those glowing lights

creating mountain silhouettes on a clear and starless night.

But as I look out in the darkness…and this halo over the mountains I see…

I prefer the explanation…provided by the Cherokee… 

I like to think years ago…in the solitude of the early morn….

when the Cherokee saw this same light I am seeing…

these legends were first born.

I have always loved love fairy tales, fables and legends…

and I imagine that is why…

when I wake up at 4:00 AM…

and the night is clear

I search for lanterns in the sky.