Red Maple Tree

Dear Dad,

There is a Red Maple tree outside my office that I watch as the years goes by. As you taught me, it is the first to change color as a harbinger to fall. Here in New Jersey that time is coming and the Red Maple is in the beginning stages of transition. The rest to follow will create a dazzling display in October which will then eventually lead to winter. We have been in this building since 2001 and I have watched the transformation 15 times and I never grow tired of it. The cycle of rebirth provides endless fascination and I continually understand ever more your interest in trees, shrubs and flowers.

The days are growing shorter, little by little and when I go out for my bike ride during the week it is slowly becoming time to stop using sunglasses and cross over back to regular. Soon it will also mean going to turtle-neck shirts, then a jacket, then eventually cold weather clothes, gloves and a mask until I am done for the year. Each season has its beauty, its attraction, and its ability to hold my excitement. The energy that is created helps to keep my life moving ever forward. You would have liked the tree outside my window. You have been gone for more than half a year, perhaps you can see it. I like the idea that you can. We get along a lot better now than when you were alive, both of our hard edges are starting to soften, a good thing for us both.

Regards,
Andrew