What a wonderful fall

The more pluses I need to put on "Middle Age Plus" the more I appreciate each season. This fall was remarkable for us here in Vernon County. I heard a remark from one who had taken a trip throughout Missouri to see the leaves' coloring who said that when she returned home she saw as many pretty trees as she had seen in other parts of our colorful state.

While sitting at my desk where I write these columns and articles I could see deep reds, brilliant yellows, twice as pretty since they were reflected in our front yard pond. By turning my head I could see that the little maple trees I had planted several years ago had now matured enough to show their glory. I was so happy that I had won the contest over whether they should be cut down, since there were too many trees in that area and these had never shown the fall colors before.

But in addition to the colors this year I have experienced an exceptional fall. I enjoy seeing the leaves falling almost like snow. One morning our car, which had been parked near the front door the night before to make unloading the groceries easier, was almost camouflaged with a covering of maple leaves. Thankfully the strong wind later in the day took care of that problem.

When I sit out on our deck I enjoy seeing, hearing, and sometimes feeling the acorns falling from the plentiful oaks in our lawn. It's fun to hear a nut drop and then try to see just where it landed. Occasionally there is no question where it landed when it pings on the tops of our heads. Fortunately our oaks have the small round acorns which are fairly light. But they feed many squirrels in our lawn, and sprout many new trees if we don't keep them mowed down.

The author in me is constantly seeing ideas for columns or articles in what I am observing around me. This fall I have had several occasions to find new material. One instance I have already written about. That was the fall I took in the parking lot where I was arriving for my last Road Scholar program as an instructor. I actually thought as I took my slow motion ease to the ground whether I should keep the whole episode quiet for fear they would think they had an old woman as their leader, or should I use it as an example of finding humor in things that happen to you. Since I wrote about it, you can see what I decided about that fall.

OK The pretty part of fall is almost over. The leaves are still colorful, but the windy and rainy days have caused them to live up to the season's nick name -- fall. Autumn doesn't completely give us the picture that "fall" does. The lawn is covered with once pretty leaves that are beginning to dry out and lose their color.

I guess I felt that it was time for me to emphasize the season one more time.

Last Saturday the Moundville United Methodist Church was having its annual Lord's Acre Dinner. That abundant thanksgiving meal draws a big crowd from all over the county. We went early to avoid the crowd, but so had everyone else. When I had my tray filled to overflowing I was doing my usual micromanaging of the family as I led our two daughters into the second or third adjoining room where the seats were by then being filled. Of course, Lester had found several people he wanted to speak to, so he had fallen behind. I knew the church and felt I could lead them off.

Confidently I took my loaded tray and looked ahead to see if there were enough empty seats in the next room for us all to sit together when suddenly I entered that room and soon made it uncomfortable for anyone to sit there, as I overlooked the step down into the room and went flying in, losing my sweet potatoes all over the floor as I was halted by a chair with a very sweet lady calmly eating her meal until I came crashing into her back. She insisted that I had not hurt her and none of the contents of my tray hit her but went to the floor. Trying to be as helpful as possible I moved over to put my tray down, not realizing that I was walking in the sweet potatoes leaving an orange smear with each step. A friend materialized to start mopping up the mess and then had to wipe off the soles of my shoes to keep me from leaving an even more colorful trail to the next room.

I was wearing my United Methodist Church sweat shirt but I'm sure that the Moundville members were glad that the shirt didn't identify which church I was proclaiming. I think they were glad to know that others would not think I was one of theirs.

I think there is one more month of this season, but I think I will start calling it Autumn instead of fall. I think I have emphasized the "fall" aspect of the season long enough. I'm not sure if I will want many sweet potatoes this year.