Season of Mist and Mellow Fruitfulness

Today, the first day of autumn, I am celebrating by….. mmmm…. by….. ????  Not really sure what I should do.  I like to celebrate the beginning of the seasons in a different way each year. It’s kind of private tradition with me.  My traditions include memorizing a special poem, buying a new toothpaste, new perfume, plating some flowers, they usually vary. I find rituals comforting.  I like recognizing milestones in the year.  This autumn, I find myself far away from my home, on a tropical island, in the mountains, on a farm, in the middle of nowhere.  Oddly enough, it still  feels like fall here.  Far away from the heat and humidity of San Juan, Adjuntas, were I am, is apparently called the “Switzerland of Puerto Rico.” Mountains, shade, cooler temps, lush green, all come together to create such a different feel than much of the island.  Sure, we’re definitely tropical and I can still were my little dresses and tank tops, but the nights get chilly too.  Which is good!  I like to forgo the need to shower three times a day and curl up in a soft shawl instead.

Anyway, I’m drifting.  Today, the first day of Autumn, I celebrate change.  I welcome the newness of the new season.  I embrace the future, preparing, harvesting, storing, to fill me in seasons to come.  I like the quite, thoughtfulness encouraged by mountain stillness.  I really feel this time has been a season of solitude, reflection.  I’m sure there’s a purpose for it…. it hasn’t all been easy, that’s for sure.  But, like the leaves that are changing color in New England, we all go through periods when we stop feeding on what everyone feeds on, when we rely on our own strength, our own beauty, our own true colors.  Ultimately, for the leaves, this means shriveling up and dying…. falling one by one…. blowing in the wind…. returning to the soil where it came from.  Dying to go on living… a stunning cycle.  This is the season of unique color.  This is the season of extravagant beauty.  I’m going to store enough up to last me the whole winter through!  I’m going to swim in the fruits of my labor.  I’m going to sing of the battering rain.  I’m going to call out to the streaming sun.

This, the first day of Autumn, we all change.  We all put on our robes of color, even for the briefest of  country drives.  Today we celebrate. Today we embrace newness.  Today we prepare for the coming winter.

Now, I’m going to go and open my new toothbrush.  Go do something special today!

To the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness….I love John Keats!