Pilgrimage

Every year since we have lived here, sometime in the fall, around the end of October, just barely past the peak colors, we head up to the Oak Hill Fire Tower. Peter hiked there often last spring, and we could certainly go more often. It's close. An easy, short hike. A great view of Concord. Cheap thrills. But somehow I haven't been since last year around this time.

Saturday it rained like the Great Flood. Sunday was drop-dead gorgeous. Warm, sunny, stunning blue, perfect autumn day. I ditched my plan to work in my classroom and we arranged a hike with Erica, Pablo and Kahlil up Oak Hill. Jasper and Pablo raced like retrievers up the path, lapping up several times and filling their pockets with "nature stuff" all the way." Everyone made it to the top of the fire tower, which was closed. We were home by nap time, but it felt like we had completed a significant end-of-autumn ritual. Taking a final long look at all the brilliance fall has to offer, and saying goodnight to the world as we all prepare for the cold, dark days ahead. When winter finally arrives, we will be ready.