There was a gathering recently at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some gals got together to recreate, regroup, reacquaint and rest. We were going to call it the Big Chill Week, or the YA YA's Week, but we settled on the Big Hot Flash Week as we decided it was time to come to grips with our stage in life.

Fall in the mountains is beautiful. The first day I was there the golden brown, red and yellows were gorgeous; I especially love the red leaves. That night a wind blew through the hollow (pronounced, "holler"), 40-60 miles an hour. I declare ("declare?" remember I was with mountain folk for a week) it blew all the red leaves away. The next morning on our walk it was obvious the scenery had changed. It was still beautiful but some of the vibrancy was gone, more bare branches were visible, very few red leaves had hung in there.

In the 'autumn' of our lives we often reflect and rethink long held beliefs. We question our meaning and purpose. Some of us doubt our spiritual convictions, our political philosophies, even our rules for living. I have come to believe that all of this is as normal as the process of autumn. We may lose some of our vibrancy. We may get down to bare branches. I feel that I am in "autumn," and I try to remember to hang on tight to my coping skills for change and wait for "spring."

Every time there is change we have to feel our way to find stable footing in the new place. Our family is experiencing an empty nest, the last one will be married next August, new grandbabies, two this summer, and retirement, Paul will retire this winter. Big stuff!

I feel sure that my "meaning and purpose" will remain the same. I will just have to adjust the how and where. I'm sure that I will still be a good and worthy person even if I take more vacations!

"Falling leaves float by my window..." Come on! Not the red ones!
Carolyn

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