Yes, I've been away from you all for a while, and soon I will backtrack into that time. I needed a break- a real break.  Suddenly my life was all about these to-do lists of which there was no end, no completion; there were more and more items making their way onto that list. My first summer in four years without a manuscript deadline was being eaten alive by all the other parts of my work life. It was disappointing - to me, to my littles, to my husband.  So, I slipped away on vacation.  and stayed there.  not blogging or reading/ posting to my Facebook. It felt nice, right, good. More on those days that melted into weeks later.  soon. I think.

But, this morning, I awoke, chilled. cold. needing more layers. How strange, my mind thought as it came to wakefulness.  I am cold.  It has been the hottest summer on record, and my curly top has spent most of this humid summer, wild, unruly, and very nearly upright.  For the first time in months, I dressed for warmth.  I donned jeans, a t-shirt and a fleece, slipped into rubber boots, grabbed my camera bag and headed to the river bank.

I sat and contemplated the fog, which was already lifting, because it isn't going to be cold today, at all, but sunny, blue, and hot.  The arrival of cool mornings, dripping in heavy dew, and the river thick with white fog is a sign.  I found myself scanning the tree-covered mountains looking for that tree.  You know, the one- the tree that changes color first.  It will be there too soon.  All it will take is enough cool nights in a row, and on some morning very soon, I will spot the tree dressed in rusty red, tucked in amidst a mountainside of green.  I imagine I see the same tree every year.  Whether she is harbinger or herald, she is first to burst into autumn color and her wardrobe change signals a feeling of loss and of anticipation- the ending of summer and the arrival of autumn.

But not yet.  not today.  I have important work to do at the river.  So, I'll be back.

 

 

 

Comments

[Judi]

Good for you! And your words really speak to me and cause me to take a deep breath - thank you!

[misty]

i miss you.

enjoy your days as much as you can! xoxo

[Jackie]

Beautiful! Glad you could take time away and enjoy your family and some peaceful days. We have a tree like that - a liquid amber in our front yard has one branch that changes color really early every fall - I love it!

[Christine Kalina]

Welcome back! You've been missed! I look forward to photos of the river work.

[Sandra]

Lovely photos; we've had fog every morning this August which means, this winter, a snow for every fog.

[Randi Nervig]

I've missed you and am glad you're back. But I'm also glad you were able to take a break. Your photos and words always speak to me so I was delighted to see your new post. Welcome back!

[gina armfield]

glad to hear it - I was starting to get a little worried ;)