Reflections of ... Seasons of our Lives!

           "Aww Autumn-- I've been waiting for you!"

   Reflections Of…Seasons of our Lives!

                by Alan P. Scaglione

Happy Fall Ya’ll!

Aww yes!
Autumn is finally here!
Although I live in Florida…
I am one of those who holds his breath from about June through August—
Counting down the days until brisk days of Autumn appear!
We get out and enjoy the dog days of summer, but…
For me… all things great in a year start with Autumn…
And now—officially, it is here!
Remember when we were taught that the seasons started on the 21^st?
March, June, September and December—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.
That’s how they made it easy to remember.
Now—there’s an “official” start of a season that happens sometime mid day, a day or two off from what we were taught!
Well… we were also taught how to write in cursive, some call it script, writing.
They’ve determined that this is not needed, so… it’s no longer taught in schools.
How are these kids going to sign their signature? In print? With their Iphone?
 Wait, don’t tell me… there’s an app for that! Of course there is.
Just like the quandary I see come over some young person’s face when faced with a clock that does not reflect time digitally!
They have no idea how to tell time IF the numbers are not showing up!
Sometimes…new and improved is just new…NOT improved!
Back to autumn!
If you consider that the average life span expectancy is 80… actually less for men…
And you apply the seasons of life to our years of life…
I am in the Autumn of my life!
Don’t laugh—most of you are also!
If we look at Spring going through 20ish, Summer going through 40ish, Autumn going through 60ish and Winter starting at 65…
Just weird to think of our lives in seasons.
The Word of God says that “to everything there is a season. A time to plant, a time to reap, a time to laugh, a time to mourn!”
Check out the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verse 1—talks about seasons of our lives!
I am 53, the same age my Mama Rose was when she passed away from liver cancer.
I remember asking her then, since I was 17…how old she felt in her mind?
She said, “I feel 21… your mind doesn’t age. You think you can do everything you once did. Your body ages, but not your mind!”
And now, I am that same age—and I don’t feel autumnal! I feel like I am still a Young Turk—one of the “Boyz of Summer!”
But then there’s my face.
Specifically, that white hair that has moved into my beard—my wife likes it—but I hate the very sight of it!
People say “you’ve earned those stripes! Wear them proud!”
I say “Can’t I just put those stripes in an award cabinet and walk by and reflect on the experience that earned those stripes- then keep walking?”
Guess being in the “autumn of our lives”…. We get to appreciate the brisk cool breeze as the weather changes.
We also get to experience the joy of preparing for the holidays that bring families back together twice a year: Thanksgiving and Christmas!
And mostly, we just get to reflect on the sunsets of our Indian Summer as it fades into night…
And know, we’ve seen a lot of sunsets in different seasons, but… we’ve never appreciated a sunset like we do today!
I see my 28 year old son, just settling in to parenthood and all of the responsibilities that it carries with it…
And I know—my Young Turk son is metamorphosing into this responsible husband and father… and taking the lead.
And I smile…then I cry…
Smile? because my boy is now a man…
Cry? Because this man is now… well you know..
Autumnal!

 Brother “A”

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Tell me your Autumn story!