A season of transformation
As the holiday wraps up and the weekend comes into view, nature displays the majestic calm of late autumn, as the land gracefully yields to changes and embraces a new season.
Fog adorns the trees at Faulkner Park in Woodstock, Vermont, on Thanksgiving morning. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
As the holiday wraps up and the weekend comes into view, nature enhances the majestic calm of late autumn, as the land gracefully yields to changes and embraces a new season.
Fog settled in early Thanksgiving morning throughout southern Vermont as light rains visited the area. At Faulkner Park in Woodstock, a beautiful calm embraced the land along with the fog, which adorned the treetops as some drizzle fell to the ground. Fallen leaves surrounding the trees left another sign we're heading into the colder months quickly, but still have a little time to observe some snowless land as autumn heads toward its final weeks.
For me, the calm, reflective silence of the fall expresses its greatest beauty. Today, this season invites us to ponder the past year and what it's meant to us, to cherish lessons learned and open up to new ones. Autumn is as transitional as it is transformative — it moves us gradually into winter, when the earth spends months of cold to prepare for the newness of spring. Similarly, times of reflection can point us toward progress, make us aware of opportunities and prepare us for greater things ahead. That path toward progress can appear when we least expect it. That's when life surprises us, but the opportunities to seize such moments are some of the greatest gifts we have.
— Gareth Henderson
A unique seasonal switch
Every day brings another sign of fall heading into winter, and this year, the seasonal transition is unique.
Fall foliage lines a country road in Pomfret, Vermont, in early October. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Every day brings another sign of fall heading into winter, and this year, the seasonal transition is unique.
As the familiar scenes of tumbling leaves and the first snowflakes grace our landscape, there is a sense of something less familiar, a feeling of uncharted waters awaiting us. In those waters, we see challenges we've learned more about in recent months, including the pandemic, resulting financial strain, and the racial tensions pervading the nation. Among all this, there seems to be a growing feeling of polarization, a lack of collective will to strive together for solutions on these pressing issues. Many times, that division can be the most frustrating problem, as it exacerbates the impact of the other three.
As troubling as these factors are, there is cause for hope, even as we head into the coldest season of the year. We can easily affirm we have a strong foundation as people, and can still realize further progress, because of what we've done up to this point. We have helped our neighbors, sectors have innovated to meet urgent needs, and new generations have stepped up in the social justice movement. Furthermore, more people have an awareness of the fact that their actions in support of a just cause can make a difference, even if those actions seem small at the time.
Moving forward, we can use the seasonal switch not as an impediment to progress, but as an opportunity. Let it be an opportunity which further unites us around all we have learned this year about ourselves and how we can make a difference in others' lives, and thus amplify the greater good for all. More than anything else, we've learned that we don't exist on an island, even if we live on a remote hill in the countryside. These recent months have proven that we're all part of the fabric of humanity, and this is the time to embrace the part we all play in it. As we move into a new season, let's not allow change to weaken our resolve, but strengthen our commitment to the kind of progress we can all share.
— Gareth Henderson
Fall colors, welcome back
On the heels of that first rush of cool autumn, here come the colors. Here in Vermont, the fall foliage is popping up everywhere.
Early fall foliage as seen from Cloudland Road in Pomfret, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
On the heels of that first rush of cool autumn, here come the colors. In Vermont, the fall foliage is popping up everywhere — and it's one week early, experts say.
It's a visual breath of fresh air, to see the mountains light up with reds, oranges and yellows. Though it marks the end of summer, many might be ready for fall after the brutally humid days many experienced in New England this year. Already I hear many conversations of baking for the upcoming season — we all know about those apple creations, and many others. That late-afternoon cup of tea will increasingly make its appearance, too, as those temps drop to autumn lows.
Not so fast, though. This weekend, everyone's getting outside to catch that last gasp of summer, with temperatures in the 70s throughout the region. It's a time to not only enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings and attractions, but to do what we can to support local businesses, many of which need every bit of income as the fall season revs up. For that reason, it was a good feeling to head through downtown Woodstock and see lots of traffic on Saturday. Hopefully that continues here and throughout other nearby states, with of course the need to follow the state and local restrictions in place to keep everybody healthy.
As with every season in 2020, this one will look different in many respects. Numerous big events are cancelled, and other traditions are also off the table. But there are still ways to enjoy this time of year, connect with others, and sustain a sense of community, including showing kindness to one another, even amid challenges. If we’re determined to do that, nothing can take away that great feeling we have when adding to the world’s good, and sharing it with others so they can benefit, too. That approach to community is a powerful force — one that makes any season brighter.
— Gareth Henderson