The Fall of Autumn

When Autumn arrives, I have to remember to revere the glory of what was before: in spring, the earth is waking up to life; in summer, the world is basking on the light and warmth of the sun. Spring and Summer stood out.

The fall of autumn wants me to hide and blend in with all that has fallen on the ground, I want to become a ghost or be invisible, but the more that I conceal myself, the beauty and ugliness are magnified, and I can’t help but pay attention.

At the grounds of the neighborhood garden, there is so much room for vegetation and yet what stood out is a tent of a homeless where two men and a dog live in it surrounded by the pigeons that they fed and became their friends.

Inside the garden, I feel I am in another dimension. The garden is still thriving with fall and winter vegetable, some plants have seeded, the bees are harvesting the last nectar of the flowers and the birds are feasting with the seeds and insects. Gardeners have built a house for the birds and bees. Our government is working on providing temporary housing unit for the homeless. Two homeless brothers I know, as I found out from a homeless acquaintance, now has a place above their heads. That is good news.

Someone is missing. The media release posted by RCMP that Colten Fleury, a youth has been missing since May 3, 2018. There were unconfirmed sightings of him up north. The poster is hard to miss on a green post being circulated in the west coast. I hope they will find him before Christmas. That will be the best Christmas present ever!

With its bright red color, they do stand out, an enticing morsel. Beware of mushrooms. This is a season of mushrooms popping all over the city. Not all mushrooms are edible. Dog owners take heed where your canine put their nose, tongue or mouth.

And now there is one lone duck left from a brood of twelve. The rest must have been relocated while this one may have escaped and decided to stay to continue the cycle of having ducks in the city. All he needs is a pool of water, shady spots to hide and some people feeding him even though there is a sign “please do not feed the birds.” Humans can’t help it. Life is just ducky.

The last leaf that clings to the bough cascaded in my thoughts when I finally arrived at the grounds of the manor. With or without leaves, this maple tree is a singular beauty for all seasons.  I borrowed the line of a song “the last leaf .. ” from the Cascades surprisingly entered my mind out of nowhere.

Home sweet home. Here I am looking at the last leaf of a lilac tree accompanied by flowering mums that can withstand the moody weather of autumn.

These are shots taken as I drag myself in and out of the house to seek medical help with my battle from a mood disorder. The photos are meant to take stock of mental wealth instead of getting sucked into the dark side of this illness as a reminder to myself and to others that life is full of hope, that we are better with others, that we are survivors, that we are filled with courage as we continue to live in spite of it.

“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person died for no reason.” ― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast