It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life. – P.D. James

My initial thought to this quote was that those days never actually occur and they are simply memories that come from fragments of other memories pieced together. But as I thought more about it, I realize those “perfect English autumnal days” really do exist. They exist when we let the beauty envelop us and push away the ugly. Those perfect English autumnal days did actually occur in life, but simultaneously it’s possible a harsh word slashed that beauty away for a bit of that morning or afternoon making that perfect day slightly imperfect. But the way my mind works is that I tend to remember the wonderful things separately from the terrible things, making a peaceful, joyous walk through arches of trees a distinctly separate experience from that same day needing to take a foreboding test. So then, when I look back a year later, I don’t remember that test at all! It was a test to be forgotten, but I do remember that breathtaking stroll with Heavenly Father. I remember that and expand it to the entire season, thinking that is what I ought to expect from the autumn every day! But it doesn’t happen so my memory keeps yearning to relive the past as I reminisce over the colors that are slowly creeping back into my life right now. My memory plays that walk over and over in my head, allowing me to relive a perfect English autumnal day in my memory. But only will I relive it for real when I’m walking through an arching tunnel of trees with someone I love and who loves me back as dearly as I love them – my family. I can only have one of “those perfect English autumnal days” if my family is there to enjoy it with me for if they are not, my day will not be perfect.

Those days do exist and when they do, life becomes magnificent. No day will be utterly and completely perfect, but there are days that come close. When you step outside in the chill of the autumn you hug yourself a bit more to warm up. But then you traverse to a warm building and you are able to be comfortably warm again. On your journey though, how much beauty your eyes greet! That is why I love the autumn. Because there is so much beauty to surround myself with that I easily forget the uncomfortable cold. But even then, there is so much beauty in that because it brings bigger smiles when you walk in the door of that warm room. I love the fall. I love the autumn. I love the leaves. I love the scarves. I love the smiles. I love the crisp air. I love the Lord for giving me this!!

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz