Changes . . .

“The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ”

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

One season too many. 

That is how it feels right now.  That there has been, just one season too many. 

I feel tired. 

I hate the changing of the seasons at this time of year.  But this changing season is bringing about some unexpected situations. Ones which are involving lots of difficult choices and decisions to be made.  Ones which could potentially bring hurt and heartache.  Life is often not easy. This is one of those times. 

But summer has most definitely gone (what we had of it).  The tree outside my office window which only a few months ago was late gaining its spring leaves, is fast losing the foliage to the gusting winds as autumn takes its hold. 

It's one of those seasons that you can smell.  It sneaks upon us during the end of the summer days, bringing the smell of dampness within the leaves, and a crispness to the day, but sometimes we are still blessed with the last bits of summer with a day which can still be warm and sunny.

But the nights draw in, the morning light taking longer to creep into the start of the day and it makes everything seem so much harder work.  The children are back into the new school year, making the changing season in the year ever more felt.

But, we know that as this season takes a grip, that we will smell it more keenly, that the shortening of the days, the lengthening of the dark autumn nights will lead to the cooling of the air as winter approaches.  The anticipation of frosty mornings with the perfect blue sky and the winter sun.

Instead, we have winds blowing, making the old windows rattle in their frames. The rain falling against the glass, leaves blowing down the street.

Seasons are changing.  Autumn is certainly here.