By Kevin Boehmer
During the summer, everything gets crazy. There is so much going on. Many programs go on hiatus during the summer months because of this. And while the summer is one of the greatest times to be alive, there is something special about the fall.
I love the reprieve from summer; the cooler nights, the air so crisp you can taste it, the wonderful produce, and the return to a regular schedule. As wonderful as summer is, there is something to be said about the fall. One of the reasons that the summer is so amazing is because of the different seasons that we experience, or the diversity of our weather. It is why we look forward to each different season. Diversity makes each season remarkably better (literally, people remark about this sort of stuff). Remember this, diversity is a good thing.
One of my favourite parts about the fall is the crispness of the days. I love when it is sunny and you need to wear a jacket while outside. I love when the leaves change colour, the magnitude of their beauty resonating in my soul. The leaves then fall to the ground, which provides either fun times or hassle. This is usually dependent on your age. Isn’t it sad, that as we mature we focus on the negatives rather than the positives. Leaves on the ground to a child is all about playing, but when you mature into an adult, they become just another thing that has to be cleaned up. Maybe our definition of mature is flawed.
I also really enjoy eating in general, and the fall is all about delicious food. Fresh and wholesome food. Harvesting the wonderful produce from the garden can be so time consuming, but well worth it (says the guy who didn’t plant a garden this year). My wife has a tradition where she gets together with family and friends and they mass produce apple pies. Amazing apple pies. I love having some apple pie for dessert, and then having the leftovers for breakfast the next morning (you could tell by looking at me ). There is also something almost sacred about freshly pressed, unpasteurized apple juice. As you drink it, you feel your whole essence smile.
And of course, you cannot speak about produce without mentioning Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has always been a wonderful time to get together as family & friends and to eat like it is going out of style. It is an absolute feast with family and friends. I like to focus on all the wonderful blessings that my family and I have received in my life. Even though Thanksgiving can be loud with so many loved ones attending, there is an almost tangible feeling of reverence associated with the overwhelming bounty. An inherent spirit of humility and love abide within this holiday season.
And finally, the fall brings forth normalcy. Harvests are completed, school goes back into session, employees are around more, and just in general, life seems to go back into its regular routine. And while at first, we may be hesitant to accept that our summer of awesomeness is over, and we may be disappointed that we didn’t get to do everything we wanted, there is something very soothing about our mundane life. As the chaos from summer departs, we are better able to commit to many different things that might be happening in our community. Whether these are volunteer opportunities or just something as simple as regularly visiting some old friends. So this fall season, try to find the peace and contentment that fall brings, then get active in the community. Volunteer, help others, and in general go out of your way to be a good person. Fall offers a reprieve Kevin Boehmer Council Comment