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Autumn

The sun is setting further to the south each night.  It has definitely lost intensity, and nights, especially, are cooler.  Darkness closes in much sooner than it did just a few weeks ago.  I dread turning the clocks back, but not the way I used to.  I don't have to venture out in early morning or late afternoon any more if I don't want to.

It has been less than a month since we were at the beach in Rhode Island, where it seemed like summer would just last forever.  In the gardens, plants so recently lush and thriving are fading fast.  The work there now is cleaning up and bedding down for the cold months ahead.

After five years of being retired, I suddenly find that I am not attuned to the school year.  The sight of the school bus dropping off the boy next door takes me by surprise.  It used to be that September was the real New Year.  Now autumn slips in a bit more gently.

The scent of apples a tad past ripe gets me thinking about baking an apple pie and then about the friends who always supplied our apple needs, now moved to Colorado.

Autumn once was the beginning.  Now it is clearly a time of endings and of rest.  This is not a bad thing, just different.  My life has changed.
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Comments

  1. LindaSeptember 22, 2010 at 5:19 PM

    I find the changes of retirement have greatly enhanced my life.

    ReplyDelete
  2. marciamayoSeptember 22, 2010 at 6:06 PM

    August is the beginning for those of us who teach in Georgia. I do think in school years and look forward to the time when I can take things more slowly and savor them - just as you do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Arkansas PattiSeptember 23, 2010 at 7:12 AM

    Retirement lets us listen to our internal clocks and ignore those on the wall. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MargaretSeptember 23, 2010 at 5:13 PM

    This is beautifully written. It's like a poem!

    ReplyDelete

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