Personal Journal: Reflection on the Subtle Change of Seasons

There was a slight crispness and sharpness to the air this morning.

Although it was a very subtle change, it was still a reminder that summer is almost over and fall is right around the corner.

The leaves of the pink petunia in the hanging pot on the back porch are starting to curl at the edges... they look slightly "tired," and not from a lack of water.

Later, as I walked down the hill to work, I noticed small changes around me: The summer flowers have about finished blooming; the poppies are gone, roses have become rose-hips; meanwhile, this year's crop of snowberries suddenly seemed more visible. The leaves of the grape mahonias are starting to look a little redder, and their dusty blue-violet berries have suddenly sprung to prominence. 

Just out of reach of my hands-- but not of the camera's lens-- blackberries are ripening. Soon we shall have blackberry pies!

Childhood Memories

For many people, these tiny changes are too subtle to be noticed... but they were often my "markers," even as a child.

Mid-August meant the end of school holidays, and soon my temporary "freedom" would come to an end. The days were already noticeably shorter... indicated mostly by where the sun would set in the forest, behind our house.

In our vegetable garden, the season of summer flowers and strawberries and asparagus and raspberries gave way to blackberries and what my mother called "winter crops." The potatoes were no longer "new;" they were merely "potatoes." The once small and crisp zucchini had grown into huge "gourd-like" things my mother described as "too coarse to eat." 

Even when quite young, I always paid attention to nature... taking more cues from my surroundings than from calendars and clocks. I would notice the lengthening of the shadows, and the way the "color" of the light would change... softening from the brightness of mid-summer.

Time Moves Faster...

... as we age. Or so it seems. Maybe we just pay more attention to it. In a couple of weeks, I shall turn 57, but I don't remember how I got "here." Didn't I just turn 30? 40? 50?

I don't feel "old."

It's funny, in a way: When we were kids time seemed to move incredibly slowly... especially when you were waiting for a class to end. It seemed so strange when the adults would talk about how time seemed to move faster and faster... but I get it now. 

It really does.

But I still watch nature, and the subtle changes that indicate the changing seasons... and the quiet passing of time.

Fall is on its way...

Endnote: This was more of an experimental/experiential post than usual; just a flow of feelings and consciousness... but please feel free to leave a comment-- share your own experiences about changing seasons and the passage of time-- be part of the conversation!

(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Published at 20170818 23:04 PDT