Arrival of Autumn
Last week, I found myself in Austin, Texas, and it was a whirlwind of experiences that touched both my professional and personal life. I began by attending a Sustainability Summit, hosted by the National Association of Realtors. Remarkably, this was their inaugural in-person conference of its kind. It brought immense satisfaction as I finally had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some of my like-minded “greenies” whom I’ve nurtured relationships with over the past few years in the online realm. Olus, I reunited with colleagues from my regenerative real estate community, rekindling connections that were strictly virtual since our last summer gathering in Maine. Our itinerary included a visit to a “healthy home” built by one of my podcast guests, Jen & Rusty Stout, and an exploration of Whisper Valley, a newly developed sustainable community nestled on the outskirts of Austin.
The weekend that followed was visiting our granddaughters who had relocated from Los Angeles to Austin the previous year. My husband and I were the last of the three pairs of loving grandparents to make the trip, and it was a precious occasion. These little ones, aged 5 and nearly 3, are in that irresistibly adorable phase that I simply couldn’t bear to miss. We’re immensely grateful to my step-daughter, Marissa, and her husband for their generous hospitality during our stay.
As we landed in Los Angeles on Monday, we were met with an unexpected chill in the air. Mid-September usually signals the tail end of summer, but it appears that autumn was making an early entrance (officially ushered in on Friday). While I still yearn for a few more weeks of summer activities, I can’t deny the subtle shifts in the seasons. Our arrival in Austin coincided with a welcome drop in temperatures after weeks of scorching triple-digit heat, punctuated by refreshing thunderstorms that brought joy to the hearts of Texans. It served as a poignant reminder that change is indeed in the air.
This morning, I went on a hike, and the transformation of the buckwheat flowers caught my eye. Their flowers had given way to a rich tapestry of rusty colors. The crispness of the air and the gentle embrace of clouds over our local mountains affirmed that autumn had arrived. It’s a poignant reminder of life’s impermanence, a cycle we embrace with each passing season.