I’ve looked for Autumn for weeks now, while standing in the morning light of the big kitchen window waiting for the coffee to brew; up in the canopies on those slow walks around Bickley’s Pond; though the woods that line Corley Mill Road on my long drive home from work. She has been a bit bashful, it seems—hanging back in the shadows, shy to emerge.

But yesterday, Autumn showed in a most unexpected way.

well, hello there.

One sweet little baby standing alone, in brilliant contrast to her deep dark ancient green backdrop. How beautiful it is to stand in glory, I thought, to reach for full potential, to be the one who finally steps forward to say:

I’ll go first.