Fall is probably my favorite season, though at the end of every season I find I am ready for the changes of each new season… I believe the influence of my great-grandmother is a big reason for this love of Fall. However it has only been in recent years I have made this connection.
My great-grandma loved — L. to the O.V.E.D — the colors of Fall. As a child I remember her going on and on and ON about the beautiful leaves. I remember nodding and “mm-hmm”ing in well-mannered agreement when she would “ooh and awww” about the gorgeous array of Autumnal leafy goodness. Sadly, that was all it was for me back then… acknowledging I heard her talking.
Now, I am the one who swoons over the glorious changing colors. I take in the trees… the hues of yellows and oranges and reds. I track my favorite trees, half loving the progress as they release each leaf… half mourning the loss of their “glory”.
As I drive down roads and streets, I hear the words of my beloved Great-Grandma Sue flow from my lips to the ears of my children. I am so glad she shared her joy of this season with me. It is a connection I will always have… another way to remember her tender, loving touch in my life. I know it was in-part an admirable effort to keep up conversation — to stay connected to her growing, pubescent great-granddaughter. In this “season” of my life I now share her appreciation. I understand that when something is so beautiful in one’s eyes… it is hard not to swoon and share your love for such beauty with those near and dear to you.
I was blessed to have had Grandma Sue in my life well into my early adulthood. I only wish she could have met my children. She certainly would have thought they were a handful, but I know she would have found the deepest delight in them also. I can almost hear her laugh… see her approving smile. I know she would have sat for hours at the edge of their beds, lightly bouncing… “rocking” them to sleep, or rubbing their noses… circling their cheeks and eyebrows with her aged, loving hands. And she would have wondered aloud about the leaves…
So. In celebration of the wonderful life Grandma Sue led… and in remembrance of a woman who truly gave her most lovely and persistent heart to her family… I want to post some images of our shared love, our shared delight — the colors of Fall…
Grandma Sue would have loved these red trees the most:
How fitting. Fall always leaves an impression… figuratively as well as literally.
********************
Keep up-to-date on the insane, the insightful, and the whatever…
FALL… I miss it. Recently I found myself closing my eyes and thinking of a beautiful fall day in Michigan. I felt much better!!!
Enjoy those beautiful colors for me!!!
So THAT’S what Fall looks like! Wow! I’ll have to see it for myself someday. It’s beautiful!
Got to 82 or so here today….
Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.
great pictures… i love fall too!though around here the leaves don’t change much so it’s nice to see somewhere in the world they do.
Those photos are incredible.. Thank you for sharing them as we in on the West Coast do not have anything like this at all…
Oh Kerry. You make me crave Fall. I don’t realize how much I miss it until I see others’ Autumns. Today is a gorgeous day out. But without all the beautiful leaves. Sigh.
I love the reds. Just seeing those trees that turn bright red…I love it.
Thanks for sharing the pics!
That was lovely.
I saw a tree the other day on a walk with Julia. It was so beautiful I couldn’t help but exclaim ” Look, A tree parfait!”.
It started with yellow at the top and had a line of every color, horizontally, that there is in fall.
LOVE those leaves. LOVE Grandma stories too!
Beautiful story Kerry - your Grandma Sue sounds like she was a real gem. Love the pics too…that red tree next to the gray building remind me of the East coast. LOVE the winding road shot. Excellent.
Kerry thanks for the beautiful pictures! There is something about fall, I love it too! When I was growing up we lived about 45 min away from town up in the mountains, and I loved to watch the tress in their different stages as we drove into town!
Oh good gracious, your pics made me tear up. I love fall and the red trees are my favorite too.
Here in Orange Cone County Ohio, most of the leaves have fallen to their muddy brown fate. I am longing to go back three weeks when the leaves were at their peak.