Most of you are familiar with editor Lisa Mitchell’s column in the Tri County Record entitled “Through My Kitchen Window,” in which her daughter, Anna, helps her make apple pancakes, chocolate cupcakes, macaroni and cheese from leftover noodles and other delicious eats. Many times, Lisa has varied the recipe to accommodate diet restrictions or just to make the recipes tastier. These changes are great! However, I have found some areas in life where changes not only do not help, but should not even be attempted.
This October, like most Octobers, Barb and I travelled to Vermont to visit my brother and his family, whom we generally see twice a year. Our agenda during our stay doesn’t differ very much from year to year. We appreciate the blessings of family, eat, go to the Vermont Country Store, eat, talk about fun experiences over the last five or six decades for the umpteenth time, eat (do you see a pattern here), go to Art in the Park (where the entire park is filled with artwork and other crafts items and foods that are for sale), attend church and then eat some more before leaving for the trip home.
Both going to and coming home from Vermont, the mountains “Through My Car Window” were absolutely gorgeous. I could almost hear Julie Andrews sing: “The hills are alive with the colors of fall.” Somewhere in that mass of countless trees, believe it or not, one inconspicuous green leaf appeared on one tree during the spring (not very impressive). As days advanced, bud after bud opened to form another and then another green leaf. As the coolness of fall started to settle in, the leaves gradually turned from a solid green to a canvas of brilliant colors: various hues of yellow, orange and crimson punctuated here and there with the different texture of pine trees. No wonder God pronounced when he created the world that: “It was good.”
Similar to the leaves above are the great works of the masters that God has given to us. When our kids were young, many times we would take them out on the Fourth of July to see the nighttime fireworks. Now that our kids are adults and have moved from home, Barb and I relish watching the Boston Pops on television with their patriotic entertainment via songs and readings and honoring our troops, both active duty and veterans. This is followed by a tremendous fireworks display using many varied colors, shapes and sizes. As the fireworks begin, the Boston Pops, led by conductor Keith Lockhart, plays Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. The masterpiece could start with one stringed instrument like the first bud turning to a green leaf on the trees mentioned above, but there would not be much body to it. Instead, the song brings a combination of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments to make a beautiful sound that comes to a crescendo as the fireworks reach their best, just like the multitude of leaves reach their peak in vivid colors as the sunshine bears down on them to conclude the greatness of the canvas brought to us by God.
Then, its time for the Overture to be completed just as the fireworks are on the Fourth of July, and as are the leaves later in the fall as the cooler weather moves in drying the leaves and they float to the ground. The only thing we can do is enjoy our lives over the next year as we look forward to the following Fourth of July followed by the fall.
Note: For years, my brother, Stephen (otherwise known to the family as Sweeter) and I have talked about going into business together. The only thing that has stopped us is the name of the company. I offered “J&S LLP” while Sweeter demands “S&J LLP”. If only we could come to an agreement! I do have the perfect business. I recently heard of a company from New England that offered three (that’s 3) leaves in their prime that have been preserved for only $15. I figure if we undercut their price by $3, we could make a “windfall.” Come on Sweeter; submit to your elder brother!
Jeff Hall, of Honey Brook, contributes columns to Berks-Mont Newspapers.
