A Leaf Falls

August 31, 2012

Photograph etsy.com

Written by Marykate Wurster, mother of three wonderful children, Gladwyne, PA

The tips of the trees are starting to turn and already the light is changing. The night is cooling degree by degree. I love the changes of the seasons and watching nature in its unending dance and play. A leaf falls from a tree as if dropped by the hand of God. For a moment it is suspended and then floats, cascades softly to the ground. Autumn – I love it for its silence and quiet. I think of fall as reflective and still. If summer is nostalgia and charm, and winter is celebratory and festive with the holiday season; then fall is a time for home, and getting settled in one’s nest of sorts. Something I am craving.

I adore all Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movies, who doesn’t really. And I love the depiction of New York City in “You Got Mail” with its charming neighborhoods and shops. That is the New York I know, with brownstone houses and mazes of streets so picturesque that you want to get willingly lost for hours winding up and down sidewalks. On foot of course, after this is New York and that is the best way to travel. There are many great lines in the movie but one I always remember is “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” I love the visual of freshly sharpened pencils. I can see them – all yellow, number 2 lead pencils tied up with a bow – not an ostentatious one, something clean, simple. I can hardly believe I am going to say this, because I love New York at Christmas, but I think I prefer the fall. It is so unassuming, so unexpected. It catches you off guard and pulls you in, not asking for anything in return. Maybe because it isn’t trying to wow you, it wows you.

I am feeling nostalgic about Connecticut and New York, knowing our friends there have started school already. I always loved being reunited with friends after our crazed and often misaligned schedules of the summer. I miss them. This fall, it is about forging new relationships. And I get to rediscover Pennsylvania in the autumn. I am hoping it has something as wonderful as freshly sharpened pencils waiting for me. If nothing else, the foliage is going to be outstanding. With all these trees how could it not be.

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Category: Random and Fun

5 Comments »

Celeste
on August 31, 2012 8:21 pm
Hey MK! Funny that you wrote this because I was just packing up to leave PA for Labor Day weekend in NYC when I spotted the tips of the trees changing colors, too. I realized that we are always too busy with the back to school routines and new activities that we never visited PA in the Fall. The holidays and skiing always brought us “home” in the winter. Now that we had a 92 degree day here in NY and because of your post I’m looking forward to returning to our new home and heck! the kids say they love their new school, so see you soon! XO-C
ps but I miss friends in CT, too.
Anne Schenendorf
on September 1, 2012 8:42 am
MaryKate, NY and CT will always await your return. The great news about changes in life is, as hard as it is to leave the faces and places you love, it opens new doors, windows and spaces for new faces and places to arrive. Those old places and faces are even more precious from afar. You will have many a visit where we get tons of QT because we realize these days are not daily. I just left you with the babes in our livingroom on my way to the shore. My heart is full having spent the day/sleepover with you. I love the way the twins follow your babes around- the role models of their little lives. They are smitten. They are mesmorized. I love it. I feel so blessed. I love these moments and everything the future holds. You will love PA in the Fall. I promise you its magical. The things that are frozen in my mind from there are: old friends, some as old as you first pair of shoes- priceless; Linvilla Orchard- I was still seaching for its equivalent in NY but now that you’re there our whole crew, Grandma included, are visiting and will share this moment with you 🙂 ; Eagles football; covered bridges in Chester county along the windy roads- they will take your breathe away. We miss you and will fill your house with visits. 🙂
Anne Schenendorf
on September 1, 2012 9:02 am
Celeste! Hope your NYC visit is fun!! And cant wait to catch up with you in PA! Will email you about getting together. I think it will be beautiful too. XXOO Mk
Anne Schenendorf
on September 1, 2012 9:05 am
Annie! I feel exactly the same. We are so blessed. Covered bridges – great idea, and there is the Brandywine River Museum – that is on my list for the fall. Will be a beautiful place to explore with the kids. Harriton house – cant wait to do together – the babies will love! And they are little kindred spirits as Nana would say – I love watching them together. XXOO
Marykate Wurster
on September 3, 2012 12:52 am
Anne – just realized I wrote this from your house – so you answered you. 🙂