Fall has turned into Winter in this place and time, this world in which I live.
Our temperature drops into the teens at night now. And our afternoons are no longer warm and sunny.
It’s going on early December and Christmas is just a few short weeks away already. Our environment has turned cold and we’re soon expecting snow.
My oh my, how our cycles of seasons and time continually repeat over and over, on and on.
How many snowstorms, Christmas’ and birthdays have you experienced, dear reader? And how many of these can we each savor, treasure and store away in our memories in one lifetime?
The air is crisp in the early morning here and brittle, brown leaves cover much of the ground. But the sun rises again each new day. The skies turn a bright blue. And life continues.
I visited an old friend named Owen yesterday. He is in what they call long term care here in our local hospital. I think that’s just a more appropriate term for nursing home care.
I was surprised when I saw him. His eyes were clear and he was bright, coherent and happy to see me. Like most other residents, he has few visitors.
It was shortly after lunch at the facility and he was watching TV in the dining room. We sat and chatted about old friends, the weather and what’s going on around town.
Owen has difficulty with his verbal communication due to his Parkins condition. And being that he is a well-educated man, he is quite self-conscious of this disability. So, patience and understanding is required to carry on a conversation with him.
But all in all, Owen is warm, comfortable, well taken good care of by the friendly and professional staff. He is protected from the cold world outside the hospital walls.
Whenever I ask if he deeds or wants anything from the outside, he always tells me “No”.
But he looks out his window and sees the cars, people and life as we know it going by. He told me that he occasionally sees deer roaming around.
I well remember back a couple of years ago when Owen and I were neighbors. His health had declined and he could not get out and about any more.
He had much trouble taking care of himself. But he refused and resisted until the bitter end to give up his freedom and independence.
He would not leave his apartment and wanted nothing to do with VA facilities and nursing home care.
It was shortly thereafter that we found Owen unconscious and stretched out on his floor. We did not know how long he had been lying there.
Being unresponsive, he was airlifted by medical helicopter to Las Vegas. Both my neighbors and I thought that that was surely the end of our poor old friend, Owen.
But he bounced back!
I was so pleasantly surprised to later see Owen as a resident of our local Lincoln County hospital. I asked him then if he was happy to be still alive and kicking after all that drama and hectic activity. Well Owen gave me the biggest and brightest smile!
So, the winds are blowing here today and it appears to be raining brown leaves. They flutter all about and settle gently on the ground.
However, in a couple of months or so tiny wee buds will pop their heads out from the bare branches of our trees. Then they too will go about their mission to turn our world into a vivid lush green once more.
Spring, Summer and Fall; the cycles of our seasons remind me so much of the chapters of our lives.
And in a way you might see our human bodies’ existence similar to that of the leaves on our trees.
They spring into life as tiny tots. They grow and flourish along with those all around them.
They live in harmony with the wind, sunshine and rain. Finally, they glow in brilliant colors before they gently fade away, only to be replaced and continued shortly thereafter by a new cycle.
Summer warmth fades in September
Autumn leaves fall in November
Swirling snow blows in December
Nature’s moods so harsh and tender
The highlights of life we remember
Dan is at danhughoconnor@gmail.com