HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Does this feel like an oxymoronic statement? Throughout the year, we celebrate many holidays. Wonderful times with family and friends. Maybe it’s just me, but, in retrospect, Labor Day always seems tainted. Tainted with a sense of loss. The good times (summer) are over! But I’m here to tell you, there ARE some nice times ahead: AUTUMN COLORS!

NOTE: Personally, over the years, and (no doubt about it) there are quite a few years for me to look back over, I’ve been observing an ever gradual transitioning – a softening, if you will – moving away from that arbitrary and definitive sense of a loss to a realization of wonderful times had and new opportunities presented!! 

Some old sayings concerning the change of seasons help describe the sentiments mentioned above – ENJOY:

“Seasons change and so do we.”  **common expression**

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.”  ** George Santayana, writer and philosopher**

“It is a new season, a perfect opportunity to do something new, something bold, something beautiful.”  ** unknown **

“Autumn, the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.”  ** unknown **

“Winter is an etching, Spring a watercolor, Summer an oil painting and Autumn a mosaic of them all”  ** Stanley Horowitz, poet **

OK, a quick review:

It is Labor Day, the unofficial end to our summer season! Remember, September 22^nd is the Autumnal Equinox, nature’s beginning of autumn!!

Autumn means nature’s dazzling display of colors! This is a reminder to you about the upcoming Autumn Colors. Take your family, grab a friend, or fly solo. Remember, it doesn’t even have to be a trip, just slow it down a little, take time to look around, be a little more focused and observant, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with the show!

NOTE/DISCLAIMER:  These are photos on file, not current conditions out this way in Warren County! If you’re not local, you are by all means welcome to come out and visit our open spaces BUT we still have a ways to go for color!

These are some of my favorite places, but the really neat thing about autumn is that all places with trees and plants are transformed, so the show actually comes to you!  You just need to look around and get yourself in the mood to appreciate it.                                                                                                  

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.