Another glorious fall day

I suppose I am quite a romantic, in that I tend to glorify the things that I love. Fall is one of them. The leaves here in Virginia are spectacular, as are the fall colors in Michigan. The beautiful part about the Michigan fall is the contrast between the vibrant autumnal burst of festive colors and the verdant grass lands. The Virginia fall is as colorful as the one I had experienced in Michigan but it does not have the desired effect due to the lack of a green background, although the blue skies are spectacular enough.

You can tell the weather is changing ever so slightly. The bite of the wind is such that the shivers are climbing up my spine early in the morning. The breeze that confronts me as I step out is ever so much more bracing than the same breeze two weeks ago. The humidity has dropped noticeably too, I am no longer covered in sweat whenever I step out of doors.

The smell of autumn is become more noticeable, that scent of cold earth and dead leaves combined with the smell of colder weather to remind me that my favorite time of the year is here, for however fleeting a moment. Of course, cocommittant with the weather are the holidays. Contrary to most, I much prefer Thanksgiving, the forgotten holiday. The holiday that is between Halloween and Christmas, the placeholder holiday. I love it because it comes in the middle of the autumn and it celebrates the harvest, a quaint and agrarian thought, one that we in our industrial age dominant thinking don't appreciate as much as we should.

The thought of giving thanks to nature for the bounty in which we participate comes straight from the heart and not from Wall Street. It is also in line with my Asian roots, of giving thanks to the land for its fertility. To say nothing of roast turkey, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pies.

Life and Enjoyment

I had about as good a day as anyone is allowed to have. Of course this pretty much depends on what you want and what your interests are. In my old age, I have begun taking to sitting in silence, not quite meditating but just enjoying the silence and solitude very much.

The day started with a late rising. 8:30. A quick shower and a trip to Starbucks for the elixir of the body and mind: coffee and the Sunday New York Times. I sat there and read most of the paper.

I went book shopping, bought nothing. I went grocery shopping, bought a lot. I roamed the landscape of Blacksburg and I went to Boudreaux's for brunch, a wise choice.

I returned to the rental and I read, all afternoon. Sat in the crisp sunshine on the deck and I read and read.

As a side note, if you ever get a chance to read Calvin Trillin's celebratory essay of his wife's life, do it. It is no longer than an extended essay but it is so very touching and oh so very Trillin. This is what love is about. This is one of the many ways that an ideal relationship should be.

It has been a while since I spent an afternoon doing nothing but read. It was enjoyable, surrounded by silence and the sounds of the outdoors. The sun was warm enough to keep me warm while there were enough crispness to the fall day to keep the autumnal smells and distinction fresh in my mind. It was a very good day.