At the end of the summer, I declined to teach another college course on Sunday so that I could “have an autumn.” And it was wonderful! Almost everything on my fall fun list was checked off as of yesterday (except the Betsy-Tacy books, I love these books but not feeling it at the moment).
This year, autumn felt distinct in a way it doesn’t always. I think because it was relatively warm and dry in the Northeast, the foliage got to be really bright before starting to fall. I first saw the leaves changing color on my way up to Montreal for Rosh Hashana, and more so on my way back after Succos. As the season progressed, the color change spread south. A week and a half ago, my cousin and I saw unbelievable foliage en route and surrounding Woodbury Commons. And my sister and I saw Central Park at peak foliage this past Shabbos (more on that later).
Yesterday, I went to Storm King Art Center with a friend and the leaves in the Hudson Valley had mostly fallen — the drive looked so different than it did less than two weeks ago. Yet, despite the bittersweetness, I felt comforted by having watched the natural, slow and steady movement of the season over the past two months. It reminds me that everything changes on its own time, and just as the leaves changed and fell, they will grow back. And everything will continue to change.
(Photo credit: Marta Wave/Pexels)
