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Autumn leaves will be
displaying new colors of warm golds, flaming crimsons and various shades of rust
and yellow-green. As the chilly breezes pass through the trees, so will time,
with such rapidity, reminding us that all good times and beautiful moments must
also take leave of us.
Soon, I will be inhaling
the pleasant, yet pungent aroma of the smoke being emitted from chimneys of
homes with wood-burning stoves, especially as I drive down the winding country
roads and deliberately leave my car window down a crack, just enough to allow
the escaping billowing smoke's fragrance to enter into my vehicle. This
particular scent is so reminiscent of many past autumns I knew as a child. Back
then, we would rake leaves - at first, the girls would playfully compete with
our more serious-minded brothers, to see who could accumulate the larger pile of
leaves. But, as the evening air began to get a bit nippy, we kids, in one
concerted effort, pitched in so our mother could supervise the ultimate ceremony
of "the burning of the leaves", where we could smell the sweet aromatic smoke
and be warmed by the flames that danced before our wide eyes, which put me in
mind of what it must be like to be blessed with a fireplace or wood-burning
stove, where one could be greatly comforted by that direct and rustic source of
heat.
I know that, as the seasons
change, so must we. We need to make allowances to cool our homes, in the late
spring and summer months and to make certain to provide enough fuel to heat
those same homes, in the cooler and colder autumn and winter months.
Ironically, as I was
watching the weather channel, I actually heard that we are really just now
getting into the hurricane season, and already, the golf coast states have borne
the brunt of nature's relentless force. The poor hapless victims savagely
attacked by "Hurricane Katrina" could not possibly have foretold what tragic
devastation lay before them. You and I think of looking out our windows, patio
doors, or sitting on our porches, ready to take in and admire all the beauty and
majesty nature has to offer, this coming season. These dear victims have no
windows, patio doors, porches, houses / apartments, from which to gaze at the
leaves on the trees because those very trees no longer stand anymore than do
their personal places of refuge.
So, we, as a strong nation,
must "stand" instead and each of us must raise awareness, in our own small way
that national solidarity is so important at a time such as this. We need to
stop pointing fingers of blame, as this does no one any good! If anything, this
country could use a boost in morale. We do need to commend our rescue workers,
(be they medical, civil, military, or civilian), for representing that extended
hand of help, hope, and friendship and we must never forget our heroes,
overseas, who are holding their ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, because, if they
weren't doing their excellent and self-sacrificing good works, the enemy would
certainly be taking advantage of us and the rest of the world during this
natural catastrophe. So, God bless all those, who are doing whatever they are
able to and those who have opened their hearts, homes, and wallets to the sick
and needy and the disenfranchised souls, whose tomorrows will probably, not only
be difficult, but also, sorrow-stricken, especially if they have lost a beloved
family member, be they human or pets, who, for many, are the only family members
they have left in all the world.
Many may choose never to go
back, but, for those who do, their resiliency and resolve will be truly tested
and for those I heard speaking to reporters on CNN, I have no doubt they will
prove equal to the task!
I'll be the first to admit,
I was more than just a little displeased to learn of the rising fuel prices and
that heating fuel should be going up 70% in cost and, for those who heat their
homes with electricity, (which requires gas to produce), we can expect a 17%
price hike, as well.
Now, let's just think of
"Katrina's" victims who don't have to worry about heating their homes, where
they once lived --- because they have no homes to heat, to begin with! And gas
prices won't immediately affect them either, because their vehicles have either
been severally damaged or completely destroyed.
You know, the holiday of
Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, but with all the pain and suffering, as well
as the kindness, help and generosity, we find there is a poignant inherent
goodness in human beings, for the most part. It's at such times, as this, the
term seems quite apropos when we refer to ourselves as, "Mankind". For all we
do have --- let's make every day a day to give thanks.
Submitted and written by Annette M. Winter 2005 |
