Overnight rain showers have moved out, the sky is quickly clearing up, and a beautiful autumn day lies ahead along the Colorado Front Range. There is a cool snap in the air, reminding us of the approach of cooler days to come. This morning's temperature just before sunrise was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 Celsius), but today is expected to reach a high of 71 (22 Celsius). Today will be a perfect morning to make a run to the Farmer's Market and pick up some farm fresh vegetables and fruit from some of the local, family-owned farms. Palisade peaches are nearing the end of their season, so it is time to enjoy a few more of those before it is too late.
Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. The breaking of the hot days of summer with the cool, crisp autumn air has always been something I welcome. I love many other things about the season; apple cider, colors of the changing leaves, and the spicy taste of a delicious pumpkin pie topped with fresh whipped cream.
Yet in many of the recent years, this wonderful season has brought financial disaster. The small telecom start-up I worked for in Colorado Springs shut down for good in November of 2002. Last year on the day before Thanksgiving, the company I was employed by unceremoniously dumped me a month after my boss begged me to turn down another job offer. Now, this year there is a lot of buzz about my current employer being the target of a possible takeover by a huge company. And even though I have a lot of catching up to do from financial setbacks over the last decade, it is harder for someone my age to get a job than it used to be when I was just a few years younger. Never mind that I am nowhere near ready, either financially or career-wise, to retire. I have great experience and skills, as I prove on my job every day. But I refuse to allow speculation, or even probabilities, rob me of enjoying autumn this year. Today, I have a job, I work hard, and strive to give my employer excellence in all I do. What more can anyone ask? After all, I am only a couple of years older than Bill Gates and Steve Jobs! I only wish I had a portion of their bank accounts.
Since I don't know how many more autumns I will have, be it one or forty, I refuse to allow the trials of life to rob me of the joys of this most enjoyable of seasons. Today is the last day of September, and tomorrow we have a new October. Snow has already fallen in the mountains, and we will no doubt have the first snowfall of the season for the Front Range sometime during October, interspersed between beautiful days like today.
So to all, I wish a most happy Autumn of 2007!
