Golden Paradise

I bow in their golden majestic presence

Shedding and fluttering down as thankful gesture in response

Creating a golden path inviting me further to stand in awe of their wonder

Each year we salute each other

Respectful of the life in one another

I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world in autumn. Canada bursts into wondrous colours at this time of year. I was born here and every year it’s beauty enters my soul and fills me with joy. Summer is over, and the anticipation of bitter cold days ahead looms over me. I’m not a big winter person. I don’t play winter sports or anything akin, but I do encourage my kids to find the fun after a fresh snowfall. Since last winter, however, my knees have proven to be an issue for me. When the cold hits them they ache for hours, even under blankets next to a roaring fireplace. It’s a hereditary state of being after a certain age. I would like to think I’m too young for these aches and pains, but my sisters and relatives remind me that arthritic joints—namely our knees—is a standing problem as we age. So my daily walks on cold days have shortened, and the time I spend under blankets has lengthened. Still, on warmish days, I walk alone amongst the trees that always feel like home.