Saturday, October 23, 2010

Autumn's Splendour.

Autumn.... a time for introspection, reflection, and taking stock.

As a child, autumn was just one more step in a long adventure I knew as my life. Summer was followed by school, shorter days, heavier clothes, and finally snow. Somewhere in there, the event known as “Autumn;” sometimes known as “Fall,” occurred. The leaves turned colour, then fell to the ground, none of which really made much difference in my young life.

As I became a teen, a vigorous “back to nature” movement was in full momentum. By that time, I had learned to appreciate the spectacle of Autumn’s painting. I followed in my Father’s footsteps and learned to use a rifle and became a hunter in the fall. Soon enough I discovered that I preferred to just look at the forests than to kill the inhabitants thereof. I began hiking around the open spaces of abandoned farms, visible to hunters yet in contact with the trees and drying grasses. I would sometimes carry a notebook and jot down a poem or short story.

As I began driving, I was able to go to other parts of the Province, places I hadn’t often seen before. I marvelled at the different colours from region to region, species to species... Maple, Birch, Oak, Beech, Aspen... All took on a different hue in Autumn; some red, some yellow, orange, brown... Some kept their green but it became muted or lighter than its summer vibrancy.

As a touring musician, I got to see the Autumn in every province in Canada. I think among the most beautiful places in this great country is the Niagara peninsula. How amazing it is!

As I grew older, I began to find Autumn depressing. I dreaded winter's arrival; the cold and shivering, the snow, the dangerous driving. Autumn also reminded me I was growing older. Each one came around a little sooner than I expected it to, a lot sooner than I wanted. I spent many years feeling melancholy during Autumn's visit.

Last year, I was once again living in south-central New Brunswick. I spent many Autumn days in or near Odell and Wilmot Parks in Fredericton. I watched the leaves turn magnificent colours and fall to the earth below, and I realized just how much I need that. Without Autumn, Summer would become meaningless and boring. Autumn reminds us to make Summer count for soon she will be gone.

Yesterday I had some time available, and my camera was blessed with fresh batteries, so I took a short drive and took some photos. I was pleased with the results and posted some of them in a You Tube video, although that concept seems strange to me; still images in a video. Heh... Watch it here

~Still Wandering…

3 comments:

  1. great blog, lonnie. i'm only 28 and i dread autumn at times. i'm very much a creature of sunshine, though i don't prefer scorching heat. sunlight in my eyes makes me happy. it's very primal. hah. my ideal time of year is somewhere in late summer/early autumn. i do prefer the transitions in life, i have found. but when autumn turns to winter i get nervous. haha. winter is very beautiful, but often too long for my liking. but like you said, what is more joyous than awaiting and dreaming of spring. maybe nothing, besides its arrival.

    thanks for another great blog, lonnie.

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  2. I must say that I absolutely love autumn. It's my second favorite season - winter being my favorite. The crispness of the fresh air and the beautiful colors make my Spirit happy! Of course, one must be dressed for the weather in order to thoroughly enjoy it! (Beautiful video, btw) ~Britney

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  3. I'm still a summer guy! I feel like a big ol' fleshy solar panel in summer.

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