This is probably my favorite time of year. I always get excited about summer, but it’s never the same as the sheer joy I feel when autumn is creeping in. Even though I’m long past the “going back to school” days I still get the urge to stock up on school supplies. There is something almost magical about new pens, pencils, folders and notebooks. It will be fun to eventually buy that stuff for my children.
Fall hasn’t even officially begun, but I know it’s on its way. I can start to feel the crispness in the air. I have seen small clusters of red and gold leaves begin to peek out from giant green trees. My taste buds are turning toward pumpkin spice lattes (thank you Starbucks), apple cider, pot roast, chili, beef stew and doughnuts. I’m getting excited to resurrect my collection of sweaters and sweatshirts. I have my eye on an adorable pair of brown moccasins. My beloved navy blue “puffy vest” will make a comeback. I guess it’s all about food and fashion!
I always get an antsy feeling in the fall. I begin to daydream more. I look at where I am and where I want to be. I become uncontrollably nostalgic. I miss my grandma Marilyn everyday. I remember taking walks with her. I remember the pounds and pounds of candy corn she would consume this time of year. I remember eating chicken and biscuits with yellow gravy and cream chipped beef on toast at her apartment on Kingsville. I can hear her laugh and I can remember how soft she felt when we hugged. It brings tears to my eyes as I write about it.
I also remember cozy afternoons tucked inside our tiny duplex on Ontario St. I remember the poems I had to memorize for school. I remember taking walks to the Detroit Public Library near our house almost every school day. I remember playing with Ellen and John Paul when they were still practically babies. I remember not having a care in the world other than what I would wear to youth group that week.
At this point in time I’m wishing I didn’t have to go to work so that I could keep my house totally clean all the time, make dinners that take longer than 30 minutes to prepare, curl up on my couch and read for hours, and do the volunteer work at nursing homes that continues to pull at my heart strings.
For now I’ll keep sitting at this desk at work sharing my thoughts via blog. I’ll keep looking for my next job and I’ll keep hoping for the day that I get to stay home.
OK, so I’m crying too as I think about Grandma Marilyn and the pounds and pounds of candy corn she consumed each fall. I’m making chicken & biscuits this week, but her’s was the best! Fall is my favorite too. I have just started decorating for it. Uncle Ed and I have gone to the Howell Farmer’s Market the past two weeks to get apples and look for white pumpkins. I love you Rebecca. Grandma would be so proud of you. Just think of the fun we’ll all have in heaven some day decorating with God’s glorious creations.
Oh Rebecca, you are soooo cute… I love you so much!!! The moccosins (sp) are so you too! I cried when you wrote about fall and Grandma Marilyn. I just finished putting my fall things out. The cool folk art pumpkin that we bought at that granary in Quincy MI, Grandam Barbara’s cup and saucer collection fall cup with beautiful autumn leaves, gold candles, my Longaberger brown fall placemats, the pumpkin salt and pepper shakers from Grandma Elizabeth, the candy corn dish I have, and some cute fall/autumn tea light containers from Ellen. Tomorrow morning I will change my spring flowers on the dining room soffet to beautiful gold, orange and brown silk flowers to complete the fall transformation. Oh, I can’t forget the leaf doormat and leaf coffee mug too… :) I loved going to that Detroit Public Library, I can smell the books as I think of it. Can you tell I love fall too… But I love you more… Mom :)