Josh First's Blog

Sweet Fall is in the Air

Fall may be my favorite time of year, for umpteen reasons, only a few of which come to mind at any given moment. Until I walk outside and then recall another dozen reasons.

Clean air, freshly scented with a hearty, earthy smell fills the streets and woods alike.

Sunlight strong enough to throw objects into clear relief, but not strong enough to make you uncomfortably hot.

Cool nights, asking in the back of your head “Did you split and stack enough firewood for the long cold winter that is coming?”

Leaves turning from verdant to golden and scarlet.

Apples ripen, begging to be eaten, baked, distilled. Hard cider is popular everywhere around here, and applejack is even more popular.

Wild game begins to prick up its ears, sensing the change to leaner times is on that new wind, bringing with it hungry predators.

As a predator, my own senses begin to naturally sharpen. Tree stands are checked, shooting lanes trimmed. Hunts are planned with friends near and far.

Successful or not in taking something home, a hunt is time afield, with nature. Cannot beat that.

Enjoy Fall, friends, as it is also a metaphor for change, the end of growing things, harvesting of crops, aging, and sometimes the death that naturally follows the aging process. It is a pleasing reminder that our time here on Earth is simply fleeting.

Fall is a reminder to make every moment count, and make every moment positive to make it count the best and the most.