Sheri Wren Haymore
Author
When our daughter was growing up, we tromped in the woods quite a bit, often with friends. Our friend, Carolyn, came up with an activity to keep the kids energized. “Go find signs of Fall,” she’d say, and the kids would run ahead down the path, soon to return excitedly waving green leaves tinged with orange, red, or yellow. A version of the game continues to this day: I’ll text my daughter a photo of the first colorful leaf I’ve spied; she might respond with a photo of a found feather from a migrating bird. It’s a way to stay connected.
Sharing our finds is a way to remind each other to pay attention.
This summer, I became obsessed with, of all things, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo bird. Over the many years we have camped on the New River near Galax, Virginia, I would hear a bird call that I couldn’t identify. Twice I asked my husband if it might be a turkey, and he insisted that it was not. Privately I couldn’t imagine what else it could be. This year, I downloaded the Merlin app, which offers bird sounds identification, and one July weekend, I turned it on when that insistent bird call came from across the river. Behold! A Cuckoo bird! I had no idea there was such a bird in these parts. Back home in Surry County, that very same week, I became aware that every time I stepped out the door, morning or afternoon, I could hear a Cuckoo hollering practically in my backyard. As I was picking tomatoes one day to constant Cuckoo racket, it occurred to me: this has been background noise for decades, no doubt, and I had never noticed.
I had not paid attention because the sound held no meaning for me.
Because this October falls amidst a frantic election windup, we will all be bombarded by political noise intended to grab our attention, which becomes background noise after so much assault on our senses. The constant buzz of information—and disinformation—begins to hold no meaning, while the clear call of truth fades.
I want something real to carry me through October, don’t you? Something good to hang my attention on. A look back at photos taken in previous years reminds me: I know these things to be true about October:
**The bluest of Carolina blue skies are above us in October. It’s typically a dry, and therefore sunny, month with low humidity and clean air.
**Against the backdrop of blue skies, the colors of Autumn leaves explode in a riot of orange, red, and yellow. Because Surry County is situated in a region rich with hardwood forests, we can enjoy this beauty by driving country roads, taking a day trip up the mountains, or looking out the window at our own backyard. Leaf-peeping is a worthy venture.
**Sunsets paint the skies with fire in October. At the coast, we’ve seen stunning sunsets of yellow, orange and purple reflected in North Carolina’s quiet coastal waterways. From our friends’ fire pit viewpoint, we’ve witnessed the sun sink behind the Blue Ridge as quiet falls over the pasture and the skies blaze a brilliant farewell to another day of life.
**Wildlife is on the move in interesting ways in October. I’ve observed flocks of Canada geese practice their flight patterns over and over, preparing for their imminent migration. I’ve seen a buck deer with a heavy rack of antlers stick its head in the river and come up slurping strands of slick green algae. Last year in Kibler Valley, we watched a mama bear amble along with three cubs tumbling behind; she paid no attention to us, focusing, we assume, on finding food before winter’s scarcity.
**Our family smiles big in October. At the coast, my husband grins as he holds up a nice Redfish he’s caught for supper. Around a table piled high with Blue Crabs, we all smile with satisfaction as we enjoy the bounty with hands gritty from Old Bay seasoning.
**We also are smiling in our hiking photos from years past. The crisp, cool days of October made for great hiking. These days, my husband and I, as well as our sweet, elderly dog, are more into strolling than hiking; still, we love to be outdoors in the Fall.
This October, I invite you to pay attention to the things that make you smile, things that you know have meaning for you and your family. You can hold these things up as evidence of the goodness of life, just like our kids used to wave around their “signs of Fall.”
Let’s listen for the truth above the noise, because we know that the goodness that connects us is greater than anything that tries to divide us. And the greatest truth of all is this: we are all covered by the goodness of our Creator, whether we notice it or not.
