The Bedtime Train

Since I'm using this blog to preserve personal family memories, I thought I'd mention the latest bedtime routine that Noah and I have.  It goes something like this:

ME: (making train noises as Mommy gives Noah his imaginary golden ticket)  All aboard!  Tickets please!

NOAH: (extending the ticket to me)  Here you go!

ME: (closely inspecting the ticket)  Another golden ticket!?!  Someone must love you VERY much!

NOAH: (grinning from ear to ear) My momma does!

ME: (punches ticket and hands it back before picking Noah up in my arms)  LAST CALL!!!

NOAH AND ME: (as Noah pretends to pull the train whistle)  WHOO WHOO!!!!  (singing together as we make our way upstairs) "All aboard the bedtime train....."

It varies sometimes, but Noah loves the routine!  Of course, he enjoys it more if there is a story still to be told as he's tucked in.  Sometimes the story is from a book, but more often than not, it's from DADDY'S BOOK OF TRULY INCREDIBLE TALES OF ADVENTURE.  But that's another post entirely for another time.  :-)

Leaving Fall...

The foliage this year has been absolutely beautiful.  Most years, the majority of the leaves would have fallen by now, leaving mostly barren trees as a portend of the approaching winter.  Yes, it has peaked, and the annual stampede of leafpeepers have dissipated, returning to wherever they have come from.  But the foliage remains.

I had wanted to take long car rides this fall, armed with my trusty camera, and capture the beauty that is northern New Hampshire in the fall.  Unfortunately, problems with both of our vehicles have left us restricted to our local community.  Nevertheless, I've taken a few pictures here and there, mostly pre-peak and post-peak, but more than I have in recent years.

Earlier today, Noah and I were out for a quick ride to Grammie's house, and I thought to grab my camera.  In the short five minute ride, I managed to get a few fairly decent shots in, stopping the car several times along the way.

"Dad," Noah piped up from the back seat, "why do you keep stopping to take so many pictures of the leaves?!"

I expressed to him how beautiful I thought they were, and how I wanted to try to capture the breathtaking imagery of the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the still-colorful leaves.  Then it occurred to me -- the next time I would see the leaves again would be through the eyes of a 40-year-old.

I still haven't resolved how I'm feeling about this particular transition in my life, but at the moment, I seem to be at peace about the whole thing.  Of course, that may change as the days and months pass, but for now, I'm not nearly as worked up about it as I imagined I would be by now.

Anyway, back to the leaves...

Autumn is precious to me, altogether too short, but sweet nonetheless.  The sights of the changing leaves coupled with the crispness of the air evokes many warm memories of years gone by.  Fall, to me, has always been like a visit from an old friend who happens to be in town for a few days, a time of reminiscing and of remembering, but most of all, just the peaceful joy of enjoying the season for what it is.