Autumn Leaves
Reflections on the seasons
What’s wrong with autumn leaves and the fall of the year? Writer Candace Arthuria has an epiphany in Boomer’s From Our Readers.
Only a few months ago, mercury rose globally to unprecedented levels. In some parts of the world, it was the hottest summer on record. Finally, thermometers ceded their aggression to more tolerable conditions. For now, some of us bask in the loveliness of autumn. “Beautiful day” is the oft-chanted mantra, soon to give way to “chilly outside,” and eventually, “freezing cold.” Nevertheless, we revel in the flirtatiousness of fall, fully aware that it cannot last forever. If only.
In another month or so, we will fortify ourselves against the bellicosity of winter. Coats, hats, and scarves will replace our light jackets and sandals. The stores will stock up, then run out of products to sprinkle over the ice. Every year there is something new – quick-acting, safe for pets, environmentally friendly. You need a Ph.D. to prevent someone from slipping in front of your house. And so we do our best to avoid a fall – by ourselves or anyone else. Fall. Funny how that word never portends anything good.
The holidays try to compensate for seasons loved and lost. That seems to work best for the young. There is always that expectation of the Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Chanukah to come. People strive toward their social potential with a little more kindness and a tad less hostility. And we all feel good for a time – until it’s over – and it always is. Then, back to the grind of trudging through winter, looking ahead to the advent of spring.
It occurs to me now that my prism is skewed by a lifetime in the Northeast. Perhaps a warmer state would be more inviting. But maybe not. In this, the fall of my human experience, a change such as that might prove folly. I think I’ll settle for a bus ride through Acadia. The foliage is stunning at this time of year. As I pull my sweater just a little bit closer, suddenly it hits me. I do not detest the fall. What I hate is that autumn leaves.
Candace Arthuria is a Baby Boomer and independent writer/editor. In 2024, she earned a NJ State Council on the Arts Finalist Award for her short fiction collection, “DIVERSE: Stories Behind the Stained Glass.” Her work is multicultural and intergenerational, expanding a broad range of genres. Candace employs concise narrative to stimulate readers’ minds without consuming too much of their time. You may disregard any photos you see. Not one of them is the writer. If you don’t see Arthuria, you are reading the wrong Candace.
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