Autumn Colors

Walking in the crisp autumn morning, I breathed in the fresh scent of foliage. Being in South Carolina I wasn’t expecting much of a seasonal transition, but have been pleasantly surprised now that the cooler weather has moved in. Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. I’ve always loved football games with the family, watching the colors slowly shift from greens to yellows, reds, and oranges, and finally being able to break out my favorite sweaters. Fall is a cozy season with something in it for everyone. As much as I could talk about the joys of Fall, I have to mention that one of the prettiest seasons comes with death. The beautiful colors seen in the foliage are only produced when the leaves begin to die. Trees are dropping their leaves in preparation for the harsh winter to come. However, I am in love with this juxtaposition. I think that dying is a beautiful thing and should be thought of in that way. Obviously it can be a painful experience for people since we want to hold on to our loved ones forever, but dying and death is a part of life that everyone must go through at some point. It represents so much and holds the importance in what we’ve been able to accomplish while on this earth.

​A few years back, my Aunt Julie passed away. She was a charismatic woman with so much joy and passion in every part of her. I loved her very much and it was a shock for everyone that she had died. While I would give anything to have Aunt Julie back, I can appreciate how much closer my family has become. We were all fairly close to begin with, but now I talk to my family members almost every week (ALL of them) instead of just at family gatherings. I’ve become more comfortable reaching out and seeing my aunts, uncles, and cousins when, before, I didn’t want to feel like a burden. We all came together in that time of trial and became stronger because of it. This is why I say death is a beautiful thing. Not only are we stronger for it, but Aunt Julie will never be forgotten. She will always be with us in memory and spirit, making me a better person as I strive to be as contagiously happy as she was. 

​While most people refer to death as a person dying, that is not always the case. Death can be in reference to almost anything and can be equally as challenging. This week my parents had to put down our dog, Aggie, of 15 years. No, I’m not comparing the death of my dog to the death of my Aunt, but it was still a challenging experience for all of us. The last about year and a half for Aggie has been a steady decline. We all looked at her with sympathy since she not only lost her hearing, but also part of her eyesight. She was in pain due to her increasing arthritis in her back legs as well, which did not help her case. We constantly joked at her expense when she would run to fetch a toy and just tumble to a stop when her back legs went out. However, being the loyal dog that she was, she would always return with her bone ready to play again. My parents have never had to put down a dog before, since the last dog we had died peacefully at one of his favorite kennels while we were on vacation. That being said, I can only imagine how difficult it was to see her finally close her eyes. I will miss her energetic and hilarious spirit, but I am glad that she’s finally not in pain (and that she at least survived all of my dad’s threats to kick her off the deck). 

​While the initial sting of death hurts, the aftermath is beauty. The Fall colors represent that in the most iconic way and, for that, it will remain my favorite season. Seeing the beauty in some of the most painful experiences is a difficult task, but is made easier with the help of friends and family. I thank Aunt Julie for her energetic, charismatic, and joyous personality that I strive to apply in my own life daily. I thank my dog Aggie for her uplifting goofiness that got me through the worst of times. Both have been influential to me and both are dearly missed. 
That being said, stay in touch, stay in mind, and stay in the moment!