I Am Autumn... Watch Me Roar...

We return tonight to Henderson's Friday Night Thought-Tale hour with a mind toward turning older.  I have lately been more aware of my upcoming Birthday, and the subsequent age of "54" as part of my personal description.  Perhaps it's having a parent come to visit and seeing how their vitality is decreasing, and they are so apparently elder... Or going to visit a 'child' that now has their own 'child'...Or seeing 35th High School Reunion pictures that are filled with people you remembered quite differently... Or even hustling through an airport and having a kind 20-something ask, 'Ma'am, can I help you with your bag?'... Or maybe I just realize that I am now firmly committed to the 50's, and the 60's are approaching rapidly, but I found myself a little stressed out for a few days about aging.  That's just something I never thought I would go through since I've always bragged about being an old soul waiting for my age to match me. 

But there I was feeling old, and not feeling ready to deal with the results.

It was during one of these moments, as I was riding in the back of my son's car with my sweet grandson through the breathtaking East Coast countryside that I had an incredible moment of connection to the nature around me.  I suddenly saw myself in the colors of the trees on the hillside.  Trees once full of little green buds, which developed into leaves, matured with fruit, harvested, and now bursting forth with glorious color, far from appearing diminished.  I said to my son and bonus daughter, "You two are in the pleasant Spring of life, and I am so proud of how you cherish each opportunity presented to you.  But the good news is that one day, you'll have a fantastic Autumn, just as lovely as what is surrounding us, and you'll get to see how it all comes together with brilliant resolution". 

 Yes, I am in my 50's, but more than that, I am in my glorious Autumn.  

Indulge me as I take this a bit further... (Chris says, "as you always do"...)
Like the freshness of Spring and the revelry of Summer, Autumn has its own time of establishing its presence.  I never knew the fullness of this until I moved to the Midwest, where each season makes a bold announcement as it arrives.  For me, I've always noticed first how the trees show the change.  Most of them stay pretty much the same in structure, but it's their leaves that tell us what season it is. 

Metaphorically, I think it's the same way with humans. Our 'leaves' are the fruits of our lives.  Much like the trees what we have to weather in the previous season often determines the way the fruit will look. Even when the leaves drop and all that is left is the structure, the beauty beneath can still be awe inspiring. When we look at the glorious ones, we are not thinking, "Poor thing, doesn't know that soon it will be barren..." 

That's how we should strive to be looked at by others in the Autumn of our lives.  

Like the trees, we can always evaluate what needs to happen to assure we get to our Winter with grace and glory.  It's never too late to fertilize, prune or graft, you just have to be willing to put in the hard work to fulfill the need.
So tonight, we are drinking Curtis Orchard Specially Spiced Cider as we toast to Autumn - our Autumn - and the masterful ways we will continue to burst forth with splendor.  CHEERS FRIENDS!

Joy's Special Cider

4 cups of Curtis Orchard Cider (Or your choice)
1 cup of buttered apple liquor
1 cup of Black Spiced Rum
1 cup of Apple Pie
Allspice
Cinnamon Sticks
Place all in a pot and heat until simmering.  Serve in mugs.