Several Days ago, my youngest daughter asked me if we were going to decorate for the Fall, as we have traditionally done over the years. My answer: Nah, probably not. Her response: how come? Without thinking it thru, I said: “You and your sister are older now and neither of you are around enough anymore to justify the means necessary to put forth the task”. Next, the following defensive remark: “I know Morgan is away at College but I am still here. Besides, Morgan will be home for the Holidays”. Feeling like a heel because I was insensitive to her desire to carry on with the tradition, I began to ponder “how old is too old to enjoy participating in traditions and the memories that comes with it”?
Ever since I can remember, Fall has always been my favorite season. While not as scenic as in the higher country, one can always look forward to the cooler season over the hot & humid summers of the South Georgia coastal region. Some of my favorite memories and pastimes of Fall include:
- Decorating – While pumpkins are my weakness, the girls and I always look forward to thinking outside of the box for new creations each year. We commence by pulling the Fall decorations out of the attic and making a list of “haves” “needs” and “wants to make this event even more spectacular than the prior year. Now as exciting as this sounds, going into the attic when it is still 90 (+) degrees outside, treading through cobwebs and watching for that rat, snake or spider that may be lurking in the shadows is not my idea of fun.
- Making s’ mores over the fire pit in the back yard, while nestling in flannel blankets. While this always sounds like a romantic’s nostalgia, the reality is more like attire is shorts and tee shirt, sweltering by the mere though of a fire in 90 (+) degree weather and being eaten alive by sand gnats.
- Baking pumpkin bread for neighbors, friends and family. Although good intentions, the end result would be 60% less than calculated because you had to discard the charred loaves.
- Attending Fall Festivals…just beware that the candied apples, cotton candy and funnel cake is not good for the senior gut flora.
- Attending the annual fair…while not my idea of fun for someone who suffers from vertigo, my girls can usually manage to get me to ride the Teacup. This accomplishment usually takes place solo, as the girls would be ever too embarrassed for their friends to witness them riding such a “baby” ride. After that, I stand in all of the lines until the girls are secured in their seats, feet aching, so desperately wanting to be home watching Hocus Pocus for another annual round. After the dedicated attempt of being a good mother through this treacherous feat and observing the girls riding all of the available rides – not once but two and three times each, we retreat the dusty, crowded grounds as I mumble to myself this will definitely become the “honey, you MUST do” list for their Dad from now on.
- Planning Halloween costumes… I vow every year, that I am going to design/and make costumes for the girls…only to find myself running to CVS at the last minute to grab what costumes have been picked over, whether they have remained in tact or not.
Morgan-
Fall Hippie Camping…our camping excursions would typically take place in the Fall. I love everything about camping, especially since I have always been in touch with nature and love being outside. Although I can hang with the best of campers, it is not “glamping” when you return home only to find yourself making daily visits to the chiropractor when the pop-up camper does not comfortably sleep 4. Several nights of conforming your body into some wicked contortion so as to not suffocate the human or canine sleeping next to you, leaves one yearning for their own bed.
- Hiking…not a favorite with the younger humans since they do not believe in unnecessary exertion of energy. The motivating factor, here, is to look for the largest and/or most unusual leaves that closely resemble a potential Fall place card or object for Fall garland.
- Carving pumpkins…not hands or fingers
11. Picnics – ok, well the home made lunch packed in the picnic basket and checkered table cloth did not exist in our world. But eating take-out from KFC on the truck tail gate was a great substitute, especially to escape the ants and dogs waiting for any crumble to drop for their taking.
12. School Proms – Teens spending months planning for this event, from dresses, shoes, hair style and makeup
13. Seining – Not your typical Fall event but Seining begins in the Fall. After my first few outings of fighting mosquitos on shore and/or freezing my ass off in the water, I left the duty of bringing home fresh shrimp to Ross. I could not drink enough alcohol to succumb to the misery involved in this coastal tradition.
14. Thanksgiving – my favorite Holiday of the year! With any luck, you may be able to slip into family dinner and no one will notice that you did not have time to prepare a dish because you were too busy trying to salvage what fresh seafood you could from the garage freezer when the breaker tripped .
Well then, you would think, from reading this blog, that I feel that Fall is overrated. Quite the contrary…lol! I love everything about Fall…from the pain to the surrealism. It is a time in which we can slow down, reflect, involve and gather…a time for making cherished memories…and finally a time we can appreciate indulging our inner child.
Homestead Memoirs 