Changing Leaves

This week, we are leaf-ing no stone unturned, attempting to pack as many fun fall cliches and autumn analogies into one edition as possible! So, I thought I’d throw in another.

The autumnal lament of life.

Well, not exactly a lament, but I will admit that the change of seasons has me thinking in terms of the seasons of life.

It’s probably because I recently turned 50 (ugh!) and I’m on my LAST year before the dreaded empty nest. My youngest two of four sons are graduating from high school this May. Yes, I say dreaded. Just like I wish for summer to last a little longer each year — the sun, the flip-flops, the beautiful scorching heat — I’m holding on to every moment with my kids’ concluding childhoods.

I drag my open-toes across the frost-line every fall and say “not yet” to pumpkin spice.

I feel the same way about them growing up and into their own many beautiful colors, “leafing” me into the quiet, as I do about sweater weather: no thank you, where’s my sundress please?!

Yes, there’s a little chill in my air, and yet, paradoxically, we look out at our autumnal moments in life — and it’s so darn incredible. The reds, the yellows, the oranges...my sons are breaking out and shining as brightly as the leaves on these gorgeous October days. And I know your loved ones are too. The accomplishment of autumn eases our clench on summer and our pride for the metamorphosis before our eyes.

The changing seasons of life. The many colors that surround us. Embrace them for all the beauty they hold.