On Sept. 25th ... a long time ago

If only we could capture the beauty of autumn and hold it in our hearts all winter long. They say it’s the season for wisdom, heralding a season of death to come.
We met in the autumn, on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. I was chatting with friends in the student union when I glanced up and saw him talking and laughing. We met a few days later, introduced by mutual friends. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. Didn’t want one. But he was persistent! And fun! And romantic! And I just couldn’t resist!
We had ten years together; ten autumns walking hand-in-hand, hearing the leaves crunch underfoot. Ten autumns filled with brilliant colors and mellow sunsets and crisp fall air. Ten autumns of leaf-fights and apple picking, pumpkin patches and Halloween bashes, and snuggling close under the stars and sharing hopes and dreams.
Autumn is so empty now, serving only as the prelude to cold bitter winter winds. The magic of our autumns together is gone.
Today is our anniversary. Not our wedding anniversary; the anniversary of the day we met. September 25, 1987. That beautiful autumn day I first heard the sound of his laughter. We were young. We were foolish. We knew nothing of what lie ahead. And for that, I am thankful.
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Do you remember pressing brightly colored leaves between sheets of waxed paper to preserve their colors? It's one of those experiences of life no one should miss. Here's how you do it:
Place autumn-colored leaves between two layers of wax paper. Choose fresh leaves with the brightest colors. You don't want fallen leaves that already have started to dry.
Cover with an old towel or cloth rag.
Press the fabric with a warm iron, sealing the wax paper together with the leaf in between.
Cut the leaves out, leaving a narrow margin of wax paper around the leaf edge.
Preserved leaves make a great fall table decoration, and they’ll look great on a bulletin board too!
Take some time with the children in your life. Go out and collect some of the treasures of fall. It's a memory they'll treasure for the rest of their lives. I know I have.