I have been on the road for a long weekend trip visiting family in New Jersey. Driving to Charlotte Wednesday morning, the sun coming up over the ridge, I was struck by the late October foliage, brilliant: every autumnal shade cast aglow in dewy, golden light–burnt orange and red, deep burgundy, bright yellow to brass.
The fall colors were arriving at their sensational peak after weeks and weeks of waiting through a long, hot summer that stretched its airs well into late September. Part of me hated to leave, to miss seeing the handful of days that the forest covering these ancient mountains puts on such a show. There was rain in the forecast for the weekend, and it never takes much to bring it all to a delicate end.
But I don’t get many windows to take off for long weekend trips like these. Time is precious, and schedules are busy. All the more important to understand the gift it is to come back here, to see loved ones while there’s still time to visit.
