I wake each morning and turn the little gas stove on to take the chill off the house.

We take Percy to feed the ducks at the park one day. When the container is empty, he sits on the bench eating his snack, watching the ducks peck at the cracked corn he has tossed at his feet.

WE leave town for the day and go visit our oldest son, who we have not seen in a couple years. I come home with a huge part of my heart healed, full of love and understanding.

WE clean up the yard, cut back perennials, clean out the veggies (all but the beets), and put most of the lawn furniture away.

I have had some wonderful ah-ha moments within my life as this beautiful fall season has emerged. It almost feels like a second coming of age act.

“One of those things about getting older was knowing that so many moments weren’t just moments, they were gifts.”

― Elizabeth Strout, Olive Kitteridge