Autumn

Last night a prediction of a hard freeze. Only midwesterns get that phrase. It freezes a lot before the frost is on the windowpane. Or, enough frost to kill the garden plants. So Ron, the one imparting the sad tidings to me, went outside to help me cover the plants. Yes, cover them. To keep the frost off of them. Otherwise they would die. Cracks me up, I don't want them to die. I am sick of canning tomatoes, I have let some weeds grow tall and too healthy because I am sick of gardening. BUT, then I am out covering them up so they can maybe eek out life for two or three more weeks.
Those who see life as the seasons, you know, spring, summer and fall of our lives....Do you see it? I am fighting winter. All older people fight winter. When I was young, I just let those plants die. I always felt there were enough done up. Now, I am fighting it all. The losses, the ugly look of dying plants, the brittle leftovers that no one wants.
It was a hard freeze So hard I had to scrape the windshield this morning. I was afraid and didn't look at my garden until I returned home tonight. It survive!! Even the sick plants I hadn't covered due to not enough sheets and blankets. Tomorrow morning I will head out and uncover them. (Light freeze warning for tonight) They will live and bear the joyful splendors I have come to know well. I hope I do the same as I enter the winter of my life.