I was driving home today, and it hit me, just like that. The absolute power and glory of fall dumbstruck me. My driver side window was down, and I could faintly smell the leaves, as they swirled around in the wind and were beaten dry by the sun's rays. Luscious Jackson was booming from the front speakers into my brain, and I tapped the break lightly to slow down and enjoy this experience. *whoosh* Red. *whoosh* Red Yellow. *whoosh* Orange with a Hint of Green.


A souped-up car, complete with tinted windows, pulled up next to me at the stop light with bass blaring, but I just countered him, sending my butter-throated singer into a shouting contest. I would NOT be deprived of this experience. I knew I should have turned at the light, and I was even in the left-hand lane. But I was too close to my home base, and I was not ready to enter that world yet. After the thump-thump-thump machine roared away at the change of the neon colors, I crept back into the center lane, pleased with myself at this spontaneous gesture. I smiled, then opened all windows completely. The air was cool, but the scents were phenomenal; musky and crisp. I even fancied I caught the aroma of burning logs in a fireplace, but perhaps my mind was filling in the blanks of previous quintessential fall experiences.


It was the park that I found myself on auto-pilot to, and upon arriving, I gathered a blanket which I always kept in my trunk and headed for the picnic tables. *swish* *swish* *swish* Many a leaf that had given up its fight lay below me, and I felt a little sad as I trampled them all. This was irrational of course, but the loss of the foliage meant a loss of summer, and this change had always been associated with aging and decay. I sat on the bench, rather than on top of the table (which was a custom for me), and tried to ignore the graffitti carved into the wood. I closed my eyes, and listened to the rustling of the leaves on the topmost branches. Was this meditation? I had tried so many times to force myself to meditate, but my success rate was very low. Was this just consciousness? If so, it was tenderly and almost romantically sweet, and I slowed and deepened my breathing just in case it could turn into some highly-prized zen practice.


I sat this way, for how long I hadn't a clue, until I heard dog tags jingling and the sound of more leaves being trampled. Voices became audible, and I realized it was a woman and her young daughter, taking their precious family pet for a walk. I resented them at that moment for breaking into my private world, but as they came closer and the young girl picked up and examined a multi-colored maple leaf, I felt all apprehension and bitterness melt away. This was one of the most beautiful days of the entire fall season, and this little one was just discovering the magic of it. The mother, head down, swished past me gripping the dog leash, but the tiny blond-haired beauty looked right at me as she passed. I smiled at her, and she continued on her way. Then, bundling myself up tighter, I stepped out from the rickety wood panels and headed back toward the car.