Monday, October 2, 2017

What Does Autumn Really Bring?

If you're a regular reader here at Empty Nest, you know I adore fall and all things associated with it. Winter comes in at a close second. Even though our fall isn't lovely here in the low-country I still have a strong sense of the wonderfulness of all things fall. I enjoyed delightful autumns in my youth and into my 30s when we still had some changing seasons here in the Charleston area. Luckily, we are a mere 3-hour drive from the mountains so witnessing first hand the beauty of fall is never out of reach.

I love all the usual things about fall that everyone else loves--
  • holidays
  • colors
  • weather
  • clothes
  • football
  • food
  • decorations
But autumn is deeper than that for me. Everything seems easier in the fall and more enjoyable. Lighter. Happier. Even my memories are better.



The air is cleaner, crisper giving me cause for pause to look, feel, and breathe in deeply and to don oversized sweaters and relish their cherished comfort. Tastes are warmer, sweeter, and soothing from the first taste all the way through. Colors are more vibrant and alive and provide inner warmth and feelings of comfort and a surety that all is well for that moment, at least. The sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind evoke visions of happy times past and present.

What autumn really gives me is renewed hope. How? Fall relaxes me and causes me to focus on the good things I've experienced in life and I realize there are more good things to come.




Fall brings me a time of positive reflection whether it's remembering the good times of childhood or the people whom I loved dearly or even lessons learned from mistakes made. Sometimes it's the memory of an autumn walk where leaves skittering across a deserted road made me debate whether or not to turn around to make absolutely sure it was an actual leave skittering across the road. Or the old haunted house at the campground with the broken glass and the tattered curtain that blew through a shattered pane and sent my brother hightailing it faster than light itself and we all ran with him because he was running it didn't matter why in BROAD DAYLIGHT (you can read this hilariously haunted tale right HERE.) It might be a mental picture of my grandmother in the kitchen preparing a meal while humming a hymn from long ago and smelling her homemade bread just about ready to come out of the oven. Maybe it's the Thanksgiving meal with all our family gathered around knowing we were grateful for one another and especially for my grandparents. It could even be a shadow of college love holding hands and appreciating the days of autumn together. There are times autumn brings tears of longing. Even those are welcomed as part of my autumnal repertoire. There is nothing about autumn I do not appreciate.



Nothing quite stirs my soul as autumn does. And so I bring out the flannel, the big sweater, the floppy socks, the decorations, the recipes, and the hot drinks and look forward to my memories and the renewed hope that I know autumn will bring.

What are your favorite things about autumn?


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16 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more! I love all things fall and I live in the Upstate! You're right it's more than just the usual things. Fall always brings a sense of peace and hope to me.

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    1. Oh I bet it is stunning up there! I'm so glad to know someone else feels the peace and hope fall brings. :)

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  2. Here is central Florida Fall brings lower humidity and temps. I love it (and winter) too!

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    1. I wouldn't love it in Florida. LOL But I do love it in the upstate of SC. We don't get much down here or we haven't in the last 15 years or so. I miss fall and winter but then I didn't have those grueling ones with the ice and snow. If we had winter snow, it only lasted a couple days. So glad you're enjoying retirement!

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  3. I want to embrace fall but I don't :( It is not my favorite time of year, the rains, the chill, the early darkness, the garden is put away... I am a fall downer and don't get me started on winter! I adjust sometime in February.

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    1. You must live in one of those ridiculously cold areas. I'm not sure I could take living in one of those in the winter. There is such as thing as TOO cold. Same with the heat- there is such a thing as TOO hot. :) Maybe this year will be different for you! :) There's always hope.

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  4. I find the change in seasons to be awedsome

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    1. I enjoy them, too. Not as much with spring and summer but fall and winter, YES! And I'd rather have them all instead of none like in Florida or Hawaii. :)

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  5. I bet it is just beautiful. I know just a break in the weather would be so nice.

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    1. It's too green around here still but we did enjoy a few trees beginning to change on our road trip yesterday. The first few October mornings have been chilly and that has been delightful! The afternoons, not so much. Glad you are enjoying autumn out there!

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  6. Loved this post. Beautifully written and so true!

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  7. Beautifully said. You put into words exactly how I feel about fall. Thanks for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty!

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  8. Congrats Pam! Your post is Featured at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. See here: https://grammysgrid.com/blogging-grandmothers-link-party-21/

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    1. Dee, thank you so much! I'm heading over there this morning! You're so sweet!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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