Friday, October 05, 2007
Something about autumn..
My daughter just sang a song for me (with piano). It was Autumn's Here, by Hawksley Workman, an amazing Canadian songwriter, not known well but worth looking up. One line in the song is "Autumn's here... and it's okay if you want to cry." Damn if it didn't make me cry. I think I have a visceral response to this season. One apparent reason for this is that it's a season of endings, of dyings... of creatures and plants going dormant. Canadian geese fly south, over my roof, early every morning now, large flocks with deep plaintive honkings. Even in this mostly coniferous forest valley, there are banquets of leaves - yellow, red and brown.
It's dark in the morning when I wake to stretch and meditate. The air is cool and crisp then - I can see my breath if I go out on the deck to look at the lake. I feel my ancestors stirring.
I suppose we each have different temperaments. I have one that comes alive when I feel sad, when I feel the sense of comings and goings, when I see that all life begins and ends. And that the in-between contains love or is a meaningless and quick blur. I suppose this could make me want to climb in a hole or scream or simply hit the three bottles of single malt whiskies in my cupboard. Instead... I feel alive.
Tomorrow morning I'll go out in the canoe early with a coffee, and probably have to wear a jacket and hat. I hope the sun climbs over the mountain to warm my face, rather than simply rising behind grey clouds. Either way, autumn is here.
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Gary, I actually know what you mean. The changing of the seasons is so much more pronounced up north and I do not necessarily mean just Canada. Here in central Texas it's still in the low 30s so our cold months do not last that long. Having canoed in Algonquin Park and up in Quebec I can just imagine what you're doing, and smelling the autumn air and being in BC no doubt smelling the pine trees! (sniiff!) I love it.
Enjoy your contemplative rowing..
Ingrid
Enjoy your contemplative rowing..
Ingrid
You have a beautifully written blog Gary, and 'Autumn's Here' is a wonderful song. Hugs.
I saw ducks fying past my house in California last week. I watched them until they flew over a hill, heading southwest, towards the sun as much as they flew towards Mexico. I assume they'll reach Mexico first...
I saw ducks fying past my house in California last week. I watched them until they flew over a hill, heading southwest, towards the sun as much as they flew towards Mexico. I assume they'll reach Mexico first...
# posted by 
: 10:42 pm
: 10:42 pm
I'll be happy when it feels like autumn here. It was 90 degrees out today. I always liked autumn, anyway.
Great post. I remember that photo!
Great post. I remember that photo!
what a nice post...coffee and a canoe...sigh...that sounds so nice....and autumn is such a poignant time of year....if it ever gets here ( we are having summer- it was 88 today- and 78 when I went to bed- still so hot...ugh..)
Lovely post, the music and the leaves...thank you..
Lovely post, the music and the leaves...thank you..
Ingrid - I love Algonquin Park too, haven't been there for 20 years.
Seraphine - if they reach the sun first, it will be roast duck for sure.
Scarlet - yes, that's a photo I took last fall at the house we lived in in the Middle Road Community. Part of my memory lane.
That's warm Enigma!
Seraphine - if they reach the sun first, it will be roast duck for sure.
Scarlet - yes, that's a photo I took last fall at the house we lived in in the Middle Road Community. Part of my memory lane.
That's warm Enigma!
I think I did a post about that picture on my old blog. It included that one and one from Sculpting with Soup.
There's definitely positive qualities to living somewhere with sharp seasonal temperature changes. Here in Portland the part of the forest we overlook is maple and it's turning.. brown. So here I am reminiscing about New England and Canada (happy Thanksgiving, Gary).
But - the good thing about the Pacific NW is the long spring. That's something pleasant to anticipate in this world of constant trade-offs.
But - the good thing about the Pacific NW is the long spring. That's something pleasant to anticipate in this world of constant trade-offs.
I was just thinking yesterday how I could definitely move more north. I miss real seasons. Things are beginning to just be so much the same here. It's not hard and sharp. I miss it.
You paint the perfect picture of fall with your words. The early morning canoe trip sounds amazing. I myself will attempt to get up and go to Starbucks in my Beetle. ;)
Thanks for dropping by my site. :)
Thanks for dropping by my site. :)
You'd better learn that there is a difference between Pursey Tutweiller and Lola Heatherton. Otherwise, I will send my henchmen (Bobby Bittman and Woody Tobias, Jr.) to hunt you down.
I have a thing for "Autumn music". You know - the melancholic kind. In some way that kind of music speaks to my soul.
this post made me smile for some reason.
*hug*
this post made me smile for some reason.
*hug*
Mary and Susan - come visit anytime!
Zoeybella - Toronto has fall colours that outstrip ours (no mountains except the Scarborough Bluffs though...)
Bohemian - nice to see you hanging around again.
Pursey and Lola - I AM confused by all your blogs and whatnot. You don't have to send the boys to hunt me down... just educate me.
Nerdine - it's your Buddhist temperament - the transitory nature of all things. Enjoy Norwegian fall!
Zoeybella - Toronto has fall colours that outstrip ours (no mountains except the Scarborough Bluffs though...)
Bohemian - nice to see you hanging around again.
Pursey and Lola - I AM confused by all your blogs and whatnot. You don't have to send the boys to hunt me down... just educate me.
Nerdine - it's your Buddhist temperament - the transitory nature of all things. Enjoy Norwegian fall!
how are ya?
Look, over at Live at the Gay Agenda, there four of us who post. Pursey Tutt-tutweiler is herself. Lola Heatherton is herself. And Woody Tobias, Jr. is hisself. Me, I'm funnyman Bobby Bittman. We all are differnt peoples, and everbody seems to think that Pursey is all of us. Ain't so. She's just the loudest of us.
Look, over at Live at the Gay Agenda, there four of us who post. Pursey Tutt-tutweiler is herself. Lola Heatherton is herself. And Woody Tobias, Jr. is hisself. Me, I'm funnyman Bobby Bittman. We all are differnt peoples, and everbody seems to think that Pursey is all of us. Ain't so. She's just the loudest of us.
Nice leaf photo, yellow with red veins. Autumn here in Massachusetts is getting to a late start. It's been unusually warm. I'm looking forward to the trees changing color, "to enjoy the beauty", to inspire my paintings.
# posted by : 5:59 am
: 5:59 am
Hi Gary
Very evocative posting and I could well imagine you awakening and being influenced by the changing seasons, especially this Autumn to recall what I would adjudge was a fairly tumultuous year.
Nice to hear about your interaction to listen to your daughter’s song and to hear about her singing teacher whose excellent presentation and lyrics were evident on your previous post. On the subject of daughters my youngest( Rachael) has just written a post about downsizing, if you have a chance to read it and make comment, (Less is More Blog) she would appreciate it as she is interested in community living, thinking that is something you have experienced to some degree in your previous abodes. By the way how are your new digs?
Best wishes
Very evocative posting and I could well imagine you awakening and being influenced by the changing seasons, especially this Autumn to recall what I would adjudge was a fairly tumultuous year.
Nice to hear about your interaction to listen to your daughter’s song and to hear about her singing teacher whose excellent presentation and lyrics were evident on your previous post. On the subject of daughters my youngest( Rachael) has just written a post about downsizing, if you have a chance to read it and make comment, (Less is More Blog) she would appreciate it as she is interested in community living, thinking that is something you have experienced to some degree in your previous abodes. By the way how are your new digs?
Best wishes
Very cool, gary. Many times I have considered moving to hot places because I love the beach. But the loss of autumn would be significant. I cant bring myself to do it.
Went apple picking recently, I always make apple things for friends and family and the house fills up with cinnamon and I find it comforting. I have so many apples because I just cant stop picking them!
Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Went apple picking recently, I always make apple things for friends and family and the house fills up with cinnamon and I find it comforting. I have so many apples because I just cant stop picking them!
Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
# posted by : 11:35 am
: 11:35 am
Thanks Casdok and Chewy - I really enjoyed your websites.
Bobby, you're a little scary I have to admit. I may need the Shmenge brothers for protection.
Lindsay, I always enjoy Rachael's site and will visit now.
Lynn, glad to see you're still visiting - I visit the hot places in the dead of winter when I can, but love the northern climes otherwise.
Bobby, you're a little scary I have to admit. I may need the Shmenge brothers for protection.
Lindsay, I always enjoy Rachael's site and will visit now.
Lynn, glad to see you're still visiting - I visit the hot places in the dead of winter when I can, but love the northern climes otherwise.
Beautiful post! Here, fall never comes. Summer drags on, abruptly ending in winter. I miss the colors and the chilly air. There's something cleansing and pure about it.
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