One of "Nana Charlee's" famous Oakley shots.
Today unofficially begins the best season of the year - fall, or as I like to refer to it... sweater season. I remember as a child, my mother always used to gear up for fall and gave the almanac advice, "Late September always brings the coldest, wettest storm. Until then, it is summer. After that storm, it will never get that summery again. It is time for fall..."
My mother was born on October 17th and would remind us every year that she was so lucky to be born in the fall. Now, she is buried in a cemetary that has a huge tree nearby that loses its leaves in the fall and blankets her grave with gold and crimson leaves. What a glorious ending!
My seasons of fall have always left a little to be desired... a "something" that couldn't be completed every year, but I could never pinpoint what it was. This year, I know! Halloween with my own child (he will be a tree frog - inside joke for the family, but a cute costume), pumpkin patches, walks in the cruchy leaves with my son, the fall family portrait that somehow makes it into the Christmas letter... The "something" that was missing was my son!
Only 2 months until my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving. I love to be surrounded by the people I love for the sole purpose of saying thank you and being grateful for what we have. And I have so much to be grateful for this year.
Fall tends to tug at the memories. I miss my mother so much this time of year. I have great memories of fall - watching Sherlock Holmes movies in her waterbed with the window open. I miss canning grapejuice and pickles. I miss zuccini bread. I miss driving the Wasatch Back with her and my grandparents just to look at the trees. I miss Gardner Village in the fall with my mother (a tradition we still keep...), I miss the old wood fireplace in our Layton house and the smell of the first fire of the fall.
Bring on Fall!! I will unpack my sweaters and enjoy every moment!!
The Halloween Costume
