Last Dance of Fall

Of all the seasons in New England, fall is my favorite. The warm days and cool nights of early fall breathe life into my soul and energize me. The beauty of mid fall when the leaves put on a breathtaking display of red, orange and gold is a vision unlike any other.

Then late fall arrives when the days and nights get cooler, the leaves fall from the trees and November arrives. November, one of my least favorite months (with March being the other); gray days with little sunshine to warm our bones and brighten our spirits. If it were not for Thanksgiving at the end of the month, and Christmas in December, it might be extremely difficult to get through the darkness.

November can bring gloomy moods if we allow it to, so I try to find some fun and enjoyment even on these days. When my oldest daughter was around two, we happened to be looking out on a cool, gray November day. The wind was blowing hard, and the leaves were falling from the trees. As I stood staring out the window a wonderful vision came into my mind. I looked at my little girl and said, "Look honey, the leaves are dancing!" She thought it was the funniest thing, and her laughter filled the house and made the day bright in spite of the clouds. When her father came home, she told him the story of how she saw the leaves dancing that day.

From that day forward when November arrives and the leaves are falling to the ground, I think of that day when I stood beside my daughter looking out the window. I watch as the wind blows the leaves into the air, and I imagine they are ballroom dancers floating and gliding across the floor; my way of seeing the beauty in this bleak in between time. 

As the leaves swirl around in circles, I watch the wild beautiful dance as long as I can. The memory it brings forth is filled with love and creates joy in my heart as I remember her laughter that day.

May we all enjoy this last dance of fall, and imagine we are the ballroom dancers, gliding across the floor to the music in our heart.