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The Season for Old Love

I’ve always kind-of dug autumn.

It’s a friendlier, cozier time of year than summer or spring.  It’s cool enough that I get to bust out my fuzzy sweaters, yet my extremities haven’t yet turned their seasonal color of purple.  It’s a season of good food, bursting with warm spices and savory sweetness.  It’s the kind of weather that lends the afternoon to picking crisp apples and the evenings to sipping mulled cider on a window seat with a good book.  It’s the season when Mother Earth walks to center stage and says, “Okay, now let me show you what beauty is.”

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Is it any wonder I married this time of year?

But over the last few weeks, autumn has taken on a new significance.  Here in Saratoga Springs, autumn doesn’t come; it fucking explodes.  It bursts on the city like a lady out of a cake, and makes the kind of days that beg you to be outside, preferable with someone you might walk hand-in-hand with.  These beautiful autumn days have prompted us to spend more time outdoors than we ever have before.  One day we explored the state park Kyle works in, another day we went up to Lake George and took scenic pictures along the way, and whenever we’re able we like to take arm-in-arm strolls around our neighborhood and just enjoy what’s at a close reach.

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Funny things happen to us while we’re on these magical walks.  Wonderful things.  We spend time together.  We talk.  We laugh.  And we really enjoy each other.

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I’d never noticed is before, but we’d slumped into a serious rut; we’d agree to watch a movie together after dinner, but we’d end up spending the entire evening on separate couches, each staring into our own laptop-based world, with only the sound of the tv to be heard.  And while it hadn’t reached the stage of “unhealthy” yet, it was certainly well past “boring.”

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But the time we spent outdoors, exploring the natural beauty of our new home, really awoke something within us; I’d say a zest for life if it didn’t sound so lame in my head.  It’s whatever puts a flush in our cheeks and makes us chase each other through the leaves and bids us to climb the highest rock we can and stand on it.

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Kyle has really delved into a new love of photography, showing new depth to his artistic talent, but also, as his camera is very often turned on me, renewing and re-exploring the attraction and appreciation that we have for and of one another.

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Autumn is very much a season for old love.  It’s a time for taking stock of your life, marking growth, and feeling grateful for all the wonderful things that have fallen into your life.  I’ve always felt that autumn was a time for the warm fuzzies, but only recently have I discovered how powerful (and necessary) those warm fuzzies are to making sure that the happiness in your life stays there.

Below (and above) are some of the pictures Kyle (and I) took during our adventures.  If you look hard, you can see what I’m talking about.  Especially if you look around our smiles.

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I'll get him to smile for pictures one of these days...

I'll get him to smile for pictures one of these days...

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{ 5 comments… add one }
  • doahleigh October 12, 2009, 8:52 am

    Aww. This is so nice. You don’t post many pictures, especially of yourself, so it’s nice to see you. I love that you’re enjoying your new home so much!

  • Charm City Kim October 13, 2009, 11:15 am

    I am always blown away by how well some blogs can describe the weather or just anything in general. This was really well-written… and it really makes me want to grab my husband and go for a walk in a park! I love autumn.

    (And I agree with Doahleigh’s comment – its nice to see you!)

  • Natalie October 14, 2009, 8:26 am

    Fall is the best season ever. It just makes you want to cuddle up and forget the world, in a good way. Exploring nature during autumn is definitely refreshing and rejuvenating; it’s relaxing, but also energizing because of all the bright colors. I love this post. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous, as well.

  • Camels & Chocolate October 15, 2009, 11:30 am

    I would have loved to wed this time of year myself. Unfortunately, five months wasn’t enough to plan a fete (at least not in SF where you have to book everything a year in advance), and I didn’t want to wait a whole additional year.

    Damn you, SVV, for not proposing six months earlier as you planned!

  • Mike October 27, 2009, 9:37 am

    You have inspired me and my wife to get out into the outdoors! Thanks!

    Mike

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