Why autumn is so important
Autumn has always been my
favourite season. I never cared much for summer – it was always too hot, spring
– too muddy, and winter – way too cold and snowy. But autumn was special - mild
and colourful - to me it was the best season of all. Even when I was a kid and
the beginning of autumn also meant the beginning of school, I still loved it.
And as the years were flying by,
my love for autumn never faltered. I would still go for a long walk in the park
and collect a bouquet of colourful leaves. Even shopping I find more inspiring
in autumn and I always pick up a new jumper or a pair of boots, or a coat, or a
scarf – or all of the above.
The beginning of this autumn was
very exciting – Mr Chateauneuf got a new contract, and we quickly realised that
it demanded all of his time and energy. And the more he was getting involved
with the job, the more house responsibilities I took on. Until everything began
to spiral out of control.
Mr Chateauneuf filled his days
with meetings, emails and phone calls – oh, there were so many phone calls.
There were made and taken at ungodly hours in the morning and inappropriately
late in the evening; they interrupted our family dinners and brought to a halt
so many conversations.
Some nights I would go to bed and
Mr Chateauneuf would still be working, I would wake up in the morning, and he
would already be on his phone answering emails or taking/making yet another
call – at 5am.
I became a full time mum,
desperately trying to hold a full time job as well. My priorities shifted from
writing, shopping and lunching with girlfriends to making sure the boys woke up
on time, had showers, changed their pants (Little Dude had been known not to shower
for days!), did their homework, fed the cats and that there was a dinner on the
table for them in the evening.
I also lost my mascara but didn’t
realise it until a week later, because I hadn’t worn it. Elegant heels were
collecting dust in a shoe cabinet while flat boots were getting more wear than
ever.
Our diaries were filled with
carefully planned entries, and we had to live our lives with a military
precision to ensure nothing was dropped or forgotten. And as crazy and manic as
our schedules were, somewhere in that whirlpool of events, there was a long awaited
annual lunch with some dear old friends.
We usually meet up in our friend’s
house, and this year was no exception. On arrival we were greeted by a bear hug
from our host and the traditional glass of champagne. And once everybody was
there and the kids ran off to play, we all gathered around the Aga, enjoying
its cosy warmth and a long overdue catch up.
The entertainment for the kids
was carving out the pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. The idea was to
carve out all the pumpkins and set them on the table covered and surrounded by
leaves. As the kids expedition to collect the foliage was getting ready, it was
hardly a question of who would go out with them.
In the garden all the girls were
bubbling with excitement, admiring different shapes, sizes and colours of the
leaves. We were rushing from one tree to another, collecting the most colourful
and bright leaves. These were then carefully deposited into plastic bags and
given to the boys, who bored and disengaged, were awkwardly tugging behind us.
And as my own leaves bouquet was
growing bigger, it suddenly occurred to me that in-between cooking dinners,
washing and worrying about clean pants, I nearly missed autumn.
Ok, I didn’t forget to shop this
year but I didn’t go for my traditional walk. I missed the smell of fallen foliage
and rain, I never stopped and listened to October silence and I didn’t collect
the leaves. An important entry was missing from my diary – I forgot to schedule
autumn.
Much later that night, as the
pumpkins were carved and placed on a vibrant blanket of leaves, and my glass
was refilled for the hundredth time, I couldn’t help but wonder, maybe I didn’t
miss autumn. After all I shopped – check, collected leaves – check, kind of
been for a walk – check and as a special addition to my traditions, we carved
out pumpkins.
Ok, I wasn’t carving out anything – Mr Chateauneuf
was – I was drinking wine. But still, pumpkins were carved and most of my boxes
were ticked. Autumn officially happened and I most certainly didn’t miss it.
