It is so quiet here today that I can hear the beat of my own heart.
There are no birds, not even at the feeder. The last hummingbird has gone. No one is mowing, no planes fly overhead. The pool pump has been silenced, shrouded in plastic for the winter. No breeze rustles in the leaves or tugs at the canvas of the gazebo. The leaves have begun to turn, and some are already showering down.
Thoughts take a melancholy turn in autumn. Bittersweet, with joy in the glorious colors and cool days, soft sweaters, hot tea ... and sadness in the certainty that all things must end.
We have lived here two years now, and two things are clear: We never want to leave. And one day we will.
Maintaining a house in the country involves a great deal of physical strength and handyman skills, things my dear husband possesses in abundance - for now. It also involves a lot of unforeseen expenses, which we can manage - for now. But time is a thief, and the day will come when we cannot stay.
This is the way of all things, a time to sow and a time to reap, to live and to die. There is nothing to be done but to cultivate the grace to accept it. I have had a charmed and sheltered life, and in the autumn of my days I have been granted the great gift of living in a place where there is silence sometimes and a forest of my own blazing gold and red; a place filled with wild creatures and moonlight, ringing with the laughter of family, lit from within by the love of a faithful and loving mate.
It is quiet here today. So quiet I can hear my own heart. It is storing up memories against the winter to come. And it is singing.
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12 comments:
Wow. That's a moving post. And that photo is such perfection I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to stand there in that moment.
I hope you are not trying to tell me something. As for getting older I know what you mean. Im almost to the end. Last year I had to give up cutting my grass and now this year Im putting 2/3 of my garden , and almost 1/2 of my flower beds back to grass. I cant do it any more. All I can say is to be thankful for every day you get. You take care Bye Bye Ed
I agree this is a moving post and I can relate to it so well...I saw your blog award and I am going to post about it and I am visiting your other suggested blogs...they are wonderful....Michelle
Beautiful post. Very poignant and poetic. Gorgeous reflection you shot.
Caron, the pond is indeed pretty when the sky above it is blue like that.
Ed, it's so nice to see you again! I wondered where you'd gone. I've had to cut back and give up on a lot of things too, mostly because of newly arthritic hands. It's frustrating, but I do try to concentrate on the glass half full.
Michelle, thanks for visiting the other bloggers on the list! I love 'em all.
Carver, thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you liked the photo.
:-)
The reflection is gorgeous! I love it where it's quiet and you are fortunate, at least for now, to be able to live where you are.
A wonderful post and your reflective photo is a wonderful companion to it. Thank you for such an enjoyable read.
EG thank you. I too love silence, and most of the time solitude, too.
Denise, I am honored you liked it. And thanks for the follow
What a beautiful photo. Lovely composition. How wonderful to enjoy where you are right now.
Lovely post. I, too, know that eventually we will need to leave our current place. Hopefully it will be a while. In the meantime, as we simplify our lives, we are fortunate to have young neighbors who are willing to give us a hand.
Wow..inpsiring...what a gorgeous photo..nature is powerful here! beautiful and lovely heart touching story!
Have a sparkling day! and thanks always for your lovely visits and comments!
Kiki~
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