From my earliest memories, I’ve favored living in an area that features mountains. I can recall my discomfort when we visited family friends on Long Island – it was flat and I didn’t like it. My eyes continually sought visual horizon breakers – and the shops of Roosevelt simply didn’t do it for me. If we happened to be on the Island (as we called it) during springtime and I missed the unfurling of fresh green leaves that seemed to occur in an instant in my absence, I was crushed.
I guess I was a weird kid.
I love the change of seasons and the magic of what natural wonder will come next. When I return home after traveling, the first thing I do is examine my postage stamp front garden. What bloomed? Did I miss anything?
This first autumn of retirement has come with opportunities to experience the stunning beauty of upstate New York and I have been reveling in all of it. This week another newly retired former teacher friend and I hit up Overlook Mountain in Woodstock for what has become an annual hike for me. Even though this particular trail comes with an absolutely relentless climb and the threat of rattlesnakes, I love it.
It was a spectacular afternoon. ❤️
Walking Jeter in my neighborhood comes with its own soul filling reward as we watch the squirrels furiously gathering acorns and inhale the scent of fallen leaves mixed with freshly cut grass. The trees on my block and along our favorite path down the yellow brick road and along the Normanskill are absolutely rioting.
It’s breathtaking.
This time of year, the most routine drive becomes a festival of orange, yellow and red. Driving to Hudson earlier this week, we navigated our way south on the east side of the Hudson. This route allowed for a stop for one of the delight’s of the season – cider donuts at Golden Harvest. You might think their donuts aren’t the best that can be found, but, you’d be wrong. They are perfection.
A visit to Hudson without a walk around the grounds of Olana feels incomplete to me, especially when Mother Nature is peacocking about. The views were fabulous and the air was sweetly crisp and I’m already trying to figure out when I can get back down there for a sunset and full moon rise.
We live in a beautiful place. I hope you, too, are able to experience and appreciate that reality – even when our country is going to shit all around us.
Which reminds me – early voting starts Saturday, October 24th. Please vote. Democracy, and the lives of many, depends upon it.
