Fall

It feels like winter here. The snow has laid its white coat onto the grassy fields, the trees have lost theirs to the icy wind, mornings are frosty and the kids slide on the road on the way to school, as if it was a big, downhill ice skating rink, Christmas decorations are everywhere, and yet, it's still Fall. Winter doesn't officially start until December 21st, which leaves me enough time to do a little entry on this beautiful season, which I didn't know I had missed so much.

Fall is when the trees change color, and dress themselves up with the most magnificent reds, oranges and yellows, as if trying to light themselves on fire before getting hit by the winter cold. Entire forests of warm rainbows, chestnuts on the ground, mushroom picking, rainy days, apple and pear picking, windy afternoons, are all things I relished in this fall.

With the falling of leaves, came the passing of my 94 years old grandfather. A page turned. Interestingly enough, the word leave and the word paper are the same in French: feuille. A leave that falls, a paper page that turns.

He marked the end of a generation, leaving a tribe of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren behind him, and his legacy of faith, gratitude, love of the earth and family. My grandfather was a farmer. He was a visionary. He was proud of his big family. He was adventurous. And he was always so grateful. He used to say, "I am a happy man". Loosing him was sad, but it was also sweet, to know that he went in peace, that he knew where he was going and to think of what he left behind. My cousins are some of my best friends. I have the greatest childhood memories spent with that side of the family. And I am overjoyed to have my children experience those family gatherings of 80. Celebrating his life was beautiful. I am so thankful that I could be there, that I got to see him the day before he left, and that I got to say good bye with my whole family. A very touching and moving time.

Fall was also vacation time. Both for the kids and M and I. The kids had two weeks off school, and M and I took four days off to go explore the Eastern part of Switzerland, which is so untouched, so beautiful, so majestic. We had gorgeous weather for four days, hiked, rock climbed, scootered and carted down the mountains, and went picture hunting in the beautiful Alps. We had a blast!

Fall was also a new adventure and experience for me professionally, as I got to teach for a week at a counseling school. I had been missing my practice very much, so this was very refreshing. I taught about family systems and couples' therapy, and had a total blast! M joined me for a night and he was awesome. We loved doing this together and felt inspired to lead a workshop for couples in the Spring. We both got invited back to speak again in late Spring.

Fall also means lots of amazing sunsets. It is the time of the year when the sun sets straight on the lake, over the mountains, and is bright pink or orange, coloring the vineyards with lovely pink and orange hues. We have taken many pictures around 4:30 or 5 pm lately!

And finally, Fall is when snow first appears, at the kids' great delight! It's the first snowman, the first snowball fights, hot chestnuts on the fire, the first fire in the chimney, hot cocoa, first ski experience and sledding, pinky and frozen cheeks, cracked lips from the cold, but happy, happy memories. The ice rink just opened down by the lake and it's free. The kids have fallen on their behinds so many times, but with huge smiles of delight each time, at the exhilaration of this new experience.

We celebrated Thanskgiving with my family and a few friends, right before entering this Advent season, and we have much to be thankful for…