Because I walk my kids to the R42 bus each morning, I am definitely clear that autumn has actually arrived, if sometimes in soggier than usual form. The trees are working their jewel-toned magic, if a bit more slowly than usual.
With her class, Saskia’s been searching for signs of fall. She told me last week, “The leaves are pink, my favorite color.” She did not report any leaves her other favorite color—purple.
Back when it was summer, I made a wish list of things I hoped to do. It was very long. I surprised myself with how many things on that list I actually did. I missed bunches (next summer?). As a half-full personality, my pal, Avi, made an autumn wish list.
Maybe now that I can see the leaves carpeting the grass, I’m ready to make a modest one, myself.
- Make sure every kid has a warm jacket that fits before long. Bonus points if each kid has mittens or gloves—and boots. Come to think of it, boots are key.
- Sort the vast sock pile that has built back up to mountainous proportions.
- Try my hand canning applesauce. I’m thinking, jam 2.0.
- Sleep more. Get everyone else in my household sleeping more.
- Go to the Berkshires. If possible, time my going to the Berkshires to attend some part of the Williamstown Film Festival. But if I miss this, hope that many someone’s read about it here—and go in my stead. Icing on my Berkshire visit cake would be to hang with one of my Berkshire peeps.
- Go to the movies. It was so, so, so fun this summer. I think that ideally, movie going becomes a seasonal habit.
- Some fall biking. A fall hike, even a tiny one with preschooler around Fitzgerald Lake.
- Get evening roll on the floor back routine back.
- Take a full day to get some work done. Then, to sleep early. It’s probably the most important wish on my list.10.
- Make some soup, using local root veggies. And just get roasting, especially cauliflower and butternut squash, because they are delicious.
- Be part of the local politics solution. I’m supporting David Narkewicz for mayor, Bill Dwight, Paul Spector and Jesse Adams for City Council and I’m supporting the CPA (Community Preservation Act). I’m also going to a School Committee meeting to speak on behalf of the high school starting later. Even if the things I do locally are tiny drops in the rain barrel, I am glad to participate. Our overgrown front garden wears these politics on our weeds.
- Enjoy crunch of apples in mouth (I really do eat an apple—or two—a day) and of leaves underfoot.
- Get everyone in my house drinking immune boosting herbal tea, just in case.
- Read more books.
- Even if it’s chilly, make my way to farmers’ markets.
- Sign up for parent-teacher conferences. Do a little more to be organized about the kids’ school “stuff.”
I observe that perhaps while my kids’ old elementary school wasn’t so much into string, between the macramé bracelets my third grader is making and his newfound love of Jacob’s ladder and cat’s cradle, maybe his new school is. I am completely tickled by how happy he is with busy fingers. Saskia has joined in and begun to affirm her love of “tying string.” Getting settled into a new school year—especially when there’s a new school—is always a bigger deal than imagined. Maybe number 17 is simply that we keep moving in the right direction: toward four, comfortable, happy kids in school(s).
