With two exceptions, this fall is the first time in over 60 years that I have not been a student or a teacher. The beginning of the school year was a major beat in the rhythm of my year. It used to fall after Labor Day, but years ago was moved to August. As a child and teenager, fall signaled a change to intellectual and creative pursuits more to my taste than working in the fields. Fall has always been my favorite season and remains so.
My love affair with my wife began in the fall. Now, my grandchildren prepare for school while I sit back.
In our yard, August is marked by the blooming of surprise lilies, aka naked ladies. The woman from whom we brought our house told us, with slight embarrassment, that they were naked ladies; another elderly woman told me the same thing much later, but she seemed a little amused by the name.
Is there a reason for my linking naked ladies and the beginning of school? Not that I can think of, other than the simple flow of the seasons bringing these plants to bloom. For me, fall is not only the season of harvest but also a season of beginnings as a new school year starts. This year, it's not a new school year but a new year of exploration that begins.
