Saturday, October 13, 2007

The Four Seasons: Autumn


Autumn Leaves, Jean Michel Folon (1975)


Here´s to the season in between: Harvest is over (well, at least for local farmers, planters and growers of all kind), and the time to savour the fruits of the fields (and pots) has arrived.


Colourful leaves in yellow, red and orange, seem to reflect memories of summer sun, while longer shadows are casting a first premonition of cold, somber winter days to come. But initially, autumn lets us savour the last sensations of warmth.


Clear, crisp air and intensive sunlight to refuel, so indulge in it, while it lasts!


Slowly, everything seems to be winding down, in preparation for hibernation.


In theory, anyway.


In practice, the most horrendously hectical time of the year is about to start: Christmas shopping season! That time of the year used to be a time for reflection and calm, way back when and once upon a time, before it all spun out of hand into a that forceful, mindless craze x-mas has become.


But I am getting carried away and ahead of myself.


Autumn. Yes, I guess what I was going to say before getting cheesy, was: I like it. I like the crisp days, filled with more clear air than my smoke-accustomed lungs are able to take in, the light, the incredible depth of the sky.


Even the foggy days have their charm. Initially, at least. After four weeks of not catching a single idea of a glimpse of the sun (remember what it looked like?) the continuous state of near-darkness tends to evoke a state of near-depression, coupled with a lack of motivation that no amount of chocolate (or gingerbread, which has been on the shelves since early September) can defeat.


But so far, autumn here has been showing itself (himself? herself?) from its pleasant side.


Enjoy!


Animation by Ferenc Cakó, music by Antonio Vivaldi.



No comments: