Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – October 8, 2004

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – October 8, 2004

A Delicious Autumn Day

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – October 8, 2004 – It’s one of those early October days that I absolutely love. Cool and crisp in the morning – breezy by noon – warm by three o’clock and sleeping weather by evening. I had a late morning meeting and I drove up the Bayview Extension, with my sun roof open and some lively tunes playing on the radio.

I noticed the leaves starting to turn, not dramatically yet, because it’s been such a warm fall season. The sun was warm on my shoulders and I felt at peace with my life. As I drove along the city streets I watched as some leaves lost their last tenuous hold on their branches and floated down to the ground. I find autumn a very soothing season.

It a relinquishing of life – a slowing down of the earth’s breathing – a soft respite from everything harsh, with a promise that after a season of quiet, that life will burst forth again. If you’re paying attention, it’s not possible to remain untouched by the subtle nuances of autumn. The cycles of life pause and prepare to slumber through the long, cold winter.

Later in the day I sat in my office and watched as the afternoon light grew less intense. The sun will be down by six-thirty. The birds have left for the day by sunset. During the summer they stayed at the feeder longer – pecking at the seeds and jockeying for position on the feeding ring. The squirrels are collecting for the winter months and they spend less time sitting on the fence in the sunshine, and more time scurrying back and forth between the places that only squirrels know.

Neighbourhood gardens are showing the signs of summer’s end. Flowers are faded and browning and fall “mums” are appearing in garden urns on front porch steps. Their deep, autumn tones are a stark, but welcome contrast to summer’s bright blooms. Fall winds are more aggressive than their predecessor’s gentle breezes.

I’m feeling content today. Busy with some work-related matters but not overwhelmed with demands. It’s the last long week-end of the year before the winter holiday, and most of my clients are taking advantage of the beautiful weather to close up cottages or host family week-ends and dinners. I’m going to the opera tonight and looking forward to being out and about for an evening. I’ve just looked at my office clock and I have to dash, but I’ll let you know how Lucia di Lammermoor was when I get back. Chow for now.

It’s now quarter after twelve. I must buy a CD of this opera. It was magnificent. The set was simple, sparse, beautifully lit and it conveyed the dark and melancholy mood of the story in a raw, very real way. The lead who played Lucia – Marina Mescheriakova – sang notes that no human being has any business reaching and the male lead Yasu Nakajima who played Edgardo sang with such desolate passion that I could feel his pain. Once he realized that Lucia had died, his only desire was for his own death.

An intense and passionate love is destroyed by family friction and human selfishness. The entire cast was magnificent. As we left the Hummingbird Centre I was amazed at all the people out and about in the city. I’m usually stuck at home, often in front of my computer, (by choice I point out) and I forget that I can decide at any moment to get involved with a broader scope of life than I have chosen over the last few years.

Nancee and I dropped in at The Bloor Street Diner for a late night snack, a glass of wine and some fun conversation. What a concept! There were lots of other people there as well. I sometimes think that I’m slow to learn – no I did not say “dim-witted” – I said slow. However, I always think “better late than never”. I’m making changes in my life, and while it cranks up my old anxiety level a notch or two, I’m still deciding to move forward. I wonder if I should make a three ring binder?