8-20-2019
Dear Lila,
The fall season in Pennsylvania is my fondest childhood memory. I remember how the season feels – everything about it. It was a seemingly short transition from summer to fall – just a month or so after starting school, the air would turn cold, and the winds began to gust. The green leaves on each tree would catch fire. Well, not literally, but I vividly remember the leaves turning a bright orange and red – and the aforementioned wind-gusts would assist the trees in shedding for the winter months ahead.
The leaves would blanket the yards throughout the neighborhood – and I, and the other neighborhood kids would grab rakes from our garages, and pull the colorful leaves into big piles – jumping in and out of them throughout the day. As I write this letter, I can smell the sweetness of the leaves – and hear my friends kicking through the piles, and laughing. I would lay on my back in the yard, with my arms and legs sprawled out – and just look up at the sky as the wind howled and the last few leaves danced on the trees.
The fall air is chilled – and refreshing to breathe. My mother would transition the summer clothes deep into the dresser, and the long sleeves, jeans, knit-hats and gloves would come to the forefront. At the bus stop, all our cheeks got a bit redder – and we could see our breath each time we exhaled. The neighborhood kids would start discussing what they would be wearing for Halloween. I remember, one year, my father made me a Ghostbusters costume – and it was amazing.
At school, the teachers had various fall activities – from our school Halloween parade and decorating pumpkins – to learning about the Pilgrims and Native American’s as the days moved closer to Thanksgiving.
I associate certain films and stories with fall – like the always terrifying movie, Halloween and the cartoon version of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Or, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts, when each year, they would have the Thanksgiving show.
It’s hard for me to describe fall in a letter – or do it the justice it deserves – but this morning as I walked our dog, the cool air brought home. For some reason, I feel so strongly about the fall season back in Pennsylvania, and one of these years, I’m going to take you home to have the experience. Then, you will know exactly what I mean.
We are blessed to live in California, where the sun shines over 300-days per year. But some days, I wish I could wake up, 10-years old again, like you, and experience just one more week of the fall season, as a child, back home in Pennsylvania. My sisters laughing and smiling – my parents younger and healthier – and the neighborhood kids zipping up and down the block on their bikes and skateboards. I suppose my fondness doesn’t derive all from the season itself, but the fact that I associate some of my favorite childhood memories with that time of year.
My hope is that you’re also imprinting the same feelings, and memories into your mind – and one day, you will write a similar story to your child (or me J). I pray that your life continues to be filled with beautiful moments and memories.
I love you always and forever,
Dad
To My Kids - The Thoughts of Your Father 