One stalwart maple. . .

It's October, not that i have need to remind anyone, but it feels an
awful lot like late November. The wind smells different. It finds it
way deeper into the bones than a normal wind. The undergrowth is dying
back and forests are clearing, and the leaves are turning. We are very
near what the tourism folks like to call "peak foliage". Meaning that
the most leaves have turned to reds, oranges, and yellows and the like
at the same time. It makes for extraordinary beautiful sunsets. This
time of year while the sun dazzles while tucking into the horizon, the
opposite horizon gives it's best effort to rival with a glowing
bronze, lending to the notion that the whole skyline is ablaze.

On our way to work tonight, Jessy and i stopped for coffee, and there
near the coffee shop was a lone maple standing resolute in it's
longing to hold onto to summer. It was a modest little fella, not
standing more than twelve, or so feet tall and not yet possessing that
imposing canopy of some of it's older brothers and sisters. One might
miss it were they not paying too close attention.

This is the time of year when my usually hyper-obnoxious nature gives
way to an equally irritating melancholy. The ol' mind tends to dwell
on what was, mourn what isn't to be this year, and curse the coming
cold. i would diagnose it as seasonal depression, but this is my
favorite time of year. . .the harvest is in, the forests are passable,
the wildlife is scurrying around preparing for a long nap (lucky
buggers!!). This year is already proving to be tough. my dreams have
been tormented as of late. The Hogans are just days away from moving
and it will be lonely in the house again.

The last size months have allowed me to take stock in where i am, and
where my family is. This has been a time of putting our money where
our mouth is and bringing the reality of life in (tight) community to
bear along with the honeymoon dreams of it. i have to confess that our
report card doesn't afford the marks that i would have liked. Our time
together has brought to light our weaknesses (as well as our
strengths), and stretched all of us in many directions. We have had to
face variables and obstacles of every kind. And in many ways we
succeeded. We have made amazing friends and watched each others
children grow. i can say that i have not had a friend as close as
Chris in a great many years.

i am exceedingly thankful for our time together and now i hope that we
can take inventory of what we have learned about ourselves and grow
from it. Who knows what the future holds. . . only God is good.