Autumn Morning

Front Porch Summer View

Water Color by Jayne Heetderks

~ A Gorgeous Autumn Morning ~

A gorgeous autumn morning.  70º at 11am, yet predicted to cool down sharply this afternoon.  So here I am on the front porch catching a final glow of warm sunny weather for the season. 

Woke to this day with a sense of well being. That little extra nudge of feeling centered, at home in my self. OK. Not an 82 year old widow facing another day on her own with a remaining residue echoing an empty void even after almost 4 years. That sense of ‘something missing’ living on tucked into a hidden pocket in the backpack of my soul. 

That backpack in which resides all the fertile soil, the years and memories my life is rooted in. All the love, the lessons learned, the people I’ve been blessed to know - to grow with. Folks whose lives have molded me and helped put me back together when I’ve failed or fallen.

It’s quiet out here on the porch - except for the sound of gusty breezes rustling through dry leaves still clinging on. As the wind breaks their last grip, they drift down silent as mist, carpeting the lawn. Today is a bittersweet awareness of knowing all is well, yet framing a fond farewell to summer - knowing dark winter cold is just around the corner.

One large perfect oak leaf floats silently over the railing, lands softly on my hand and rests there. Not brightly colored, but rugged and beautiful. It hasn’t even touched the ground. I decide to keep it - pressed between the leaves of a heavy volume of Emily Dickinson’s complete collection. Another poem!

JoMae

10/15/20

Some find solace in pennies found, feathers on their path or butterflies who hover near. Today’s fair leaf spoke tenderly to me.

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When my friend Jayne read this story, she gifted me with a water color illustration of it. I treasure the painting - not only for the moment it captures, but as an icon of friendship the gift embodies. Thank you, Jayne Heetderks!

Water Color by Jayne Heetderks

My Fair Oak Leaf