I am so grateful for a world with Octobers.

It is cool, crisp, radiant, and fun. Autumn is the season reminiscent of plowing through leaf piles, romantic walks under maple canopies, and years in New England. Sometimes we find ourselves caught off guard and fall into autumn in the most inconspicuous places.

Like Arizona. I know...we aren’t supposed to have lush forests, enough rain, or autumn. It is another one of those best kept secrets around here.

Yesterday, we took our annual trek to Snowbowl in Flagstaff. The ski resort is open year round for hiking, recreation, and gondola rides to Agassiz Peak. Like most autumn, leaf- peeping vacations, it is a gamble on color.

Not this year.

Creativity arises from our ability to see things from many different angles. – Keri Smith

The best zoom lens is your legs. – Ernst Haas

Aspen Loop Trail was an invitation to explore. While my granddaughter ran to search for treasures, I remember thinking it was quiet except for the leaves whispering: “There you are, you are just in time.” And just as I felt swallowed up in the warmest blanket of yellow, a woman with a purple jacket caught my eye.

And it was no longer about yellow, and instead about purpose and presence.

And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.- John Muir

Next, I told my granddaughter what I was looking for some photos of ups, and downs, and all arounds.

The last photo was from her with “the leaf that was the most colorful and prettiest in the whole forest.”

I think she was right…

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

Wind Kisses, Donna