In the open woods behind our house, nestled between palmettos and tall slash pines, is a pile of leaves in a kaleidoscope of fall colors that stands out against the green scene we’re used to in October.
The pile is mostly flattened now, leaves tangled in dried needles, but the colors are still there, even two days after we scattered them. They’re foreign to Florida’s landscape, but they’re home to me. And every October since Lainey was a baby, we wait for them to arrive–delivered to our doorstep from the UPS man. I check the return address, see my cousin’s name and the promise of what’s inside with two little letters: MI. Michigan made it to my babies once again in a box that holds tradition and memories and family, and things I want them to know–the smell of a northern fall, the way one small Maple leaf can hold sixteen different colors, the happiness that comes from getting rained on by freckled yellow leaves that flutter to the ground in slow motion.
My kids are all old enough to have enough of these October memories stashed that they know the drill. They run to find “fall clothes” and meet me outside. We walk together to the woods and huddle around the box while I carefully open it. I pull the tape off the sealed bag, give it a shake and watch it expand with leaves awakening from their postal journey.
“Oh my goodness,” I say. “I think this is the best box yet. Look at all those colors.”
And then the moment they’ve been waiting for–I tip the bag upside down and release hundreds of vivid presents onto the ground.
“Ahhhh–smell that? That’s heaven.”
“Have at it! Jump in! Throw them! Make it rain!”
And I watch, in pure contentment, as my kids experience a sliver of happiness from my childhood home.
It’s officially fall.
We have a big Halloween party tonight and a sleepover that will, no doubt, keep us up late. So another cup of coffee is in order, and I may just take it to the woods for one more inhale of that heavenly pile of home. They’ll be fading fast.
Happy Friday. Happy Fall.
That is a beautiful memory for your children! We’ll be enjoying our MI leaves this weekend while we rake…and rake…and rake… 😉
this is my favorite!!!! your “fall box”!!
makes me wish i had family that would send me leaves with such beautiful colors to throw in the air!!!
you paint a glorious picture with your stories – thank you for sharing your journey and letting us tag along…
thank you for sharing your smiles and your tears.
This is simply beautiful. Your words never cease to inspire me and I, too, share your love for Michigan falls and the changing leaves.
Thank you, this made my morning!
I love it when you get your fall leaves from Michigan.
🙂
I look forward to your cousins leaves too. Your kids are lucky to have a cousin who loves them so much.
I just told a friend about your annual “fall leaves post” yesterday over lunch. Funny that you posted it today! I look forward to it each year ~ Happy Haunting!
I look forward to this post as soon as it becomes fall. Love seeing your beautiful, colorful leaves!
I look forward to your Michigan leaves post every year! I can’t not imagine not see color every fall. After the summer we had we didn’t think we would have much color here in New England but we’ve been pleasantly surprised.
It’s absolutely beautiful this time of year in Michigan! Enjoy your beautiful slice of MI 🙂
I’ve been waiting for your leaves to arrive. That is one of the things I admire about you is that you will bring what is needed so your children will also have the memory – what a gift you always give them. and what an awesome cousin that she/he cares enough to do this for you
This post makes me cry every year…I love it so. Sending all my love from a southeastern Wisconsin autumn Kelle.
Fall….it’s my favorite color.
Just curious is there any specific way she packages them so they stay fresh? I’ve seen this post of yours a couple years now but we recently moved to Charlotte and I’d love for my family back home up north to do this for my 2 yr old.
This is such a beautiful, simple way of experiencing joy. And it’s lovely that you’ve created a Fall tradition for your children, even down in Florida! 🙂