(This photo was taken by myself on November 9, 2008 in Blairsville, Ga.)                                 

                                     Fall and Some Memories 

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the fall time.  Some of my earliest memories go back to when I was a boy living on the mill village in Thomaston, Ga. My mother and I would rake that grassless yard when the leaves first started falling. My mom believed that cleaning the yard was almost as important as cleaning the house. We would do that several times until all the leaves were down.  In  those days, we burned the leaves and I still to this day love the smell of burning leaves.

Even then, I noticed the beautiful colors to the leaves.  This beauty was something that I always looked forward to. I think I was more amazed than anything else about this magical trick of nature.

It was interesting that at this same time we gathered the pecans.  There always seemed to be pecan trees on the mill village.  I guess the good lord made sure we had those, because the poor people that lived there needed them. 

On a few occassions I would climb the trees and shake limbs but mostly sticks were used to throw into the top of the trees and knock them down. I do remember some older kids with I guess more nerve than myself that would go around and shake trees if they were asked.  And even to this day, I still enjoy walking under the trees and picking up those nuts and using one to crack the other and enjoying that treat.

It is also interesting that this time of year coincides with Thanksgiving. I don’t remember that we had turkey that much as it was usually hen which mom made dressing with. And yes, we usually always had family to visit.

This was even more exciting as a youngster because I knew Christmas was next. Christmas was always a special time with my family.  Even though we were very poor, we always were happy at this  time of year.  There were few gifts but the family always got together at mom and dads for Christmas Eve to exchange gifts.

Mom always baked those cakes which were so delicious.  I remember my younger sister and myself licking the icing out of the boilers. 

These were simple times but we received much pleasure from them. As a kid, I had no idea that these were becoming some of the golden memories of my life.   

As an adult, I've learned to love the fall even more as those leaves turn such beautiful colors and those mornings turn from cool into cold ones.  It is then that I love my leather jacket, a flannel shirt, my levi jeans, a cup of hot coffee and that someone special to share it all with.

So fall is upon us once again.  I am sure that most people have similar memories as these mentioned above.  I am thankful for all of these and as I remember my mom and dad and brother and sisters, I thank God for them and all of those times.  I also thank him for putting me in the family that he did.

This poem by Dixie Willson really says it best.

The Mist and All

by Dixie Willson

I like the fall
The mist and all
I like the night owl’s lonely call
And wailing sound
Of wind around

I like the gray
November day
And bare, dead boughs that coldly sway
Against my pane
I like the rain

I like to sit
And laugh at it
And tend my cozy fire a bit
I like the fall
The mist and all