Driving along Highway 663 last week presented me with an opportunity to see trees on either side of me and in the distance with the most wonderful of sights that is merely one of the many natural treasures in this part of the country.
Driving along Highway 663 last week presented me with an opportunity to see trees on either side of me and in the distance with the most wonderful of sights that is merely one of the many natural treasures in this part of the country.
I’ ve driven along Highway 663 many times since being here, but the difference this time around is that this time the trees were totally yellow and red, a noticeable and heart warming difference showing the absolute best of autumn. And it really is an area like this where the benefits of autumn really show their true colours, where you see trees and open skies for long distances.
But the drive also made me think of what autumn means to me as well as our culture. As far as Canadian seasons, autumn has never been one of my favourites. I’ ve always liked the outdoor activities of swimming and skating that are presented in the summer and winter, though I’ ve always preferred autumn to spring - at least in Canada - because early spring in particular brings about rain combined with snow and slush. Spring in Canada is a wet, ugly holiday.
Autumn, by contrast, is much nicer. No melting snow means a drier season with milder temperatures. If I want a nice stable day with beautiful views, I’ ll take a nice day in autumn, and I like those days.
But the season also has many associations for many people. When I think of autumn, one of my thoughts goes back to my jazz background. When you play jazz music, there’ s generally a set of standards that most players are expected to know, and that many people can reasonably expect to request and hear.
One of these songs was Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prevert’ s 1945 French song “Les Feuilles Mortes” (literally: The Dead Leaves). Several years later, Johnny Mercer translated the song into an English version called “Autumn Leaves.”
Most versions of the song (and there are thousands) are played in a very melancholic, even sentimental way to reflect the lyrics.
The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
And that’ s just the first stanza.
Played along with the music, the song gives a sense of autumn that’ s very much like how it’ s popularly imagined - a season representing dying and loss.
But though I think “Autumn Leaves,” especially Eva Cassidy’ s version of it, is a wonderful piece of music, mourning doesn’ t always to mind when I think of autumn. I don’ t think many others do either.
It’ s common for people from warmer climates to travel north to see the leaves change because of their beauty. The mild temperatures also mean that some of the best times outdoors can be in autumn, especially with a clear sky like we’ ve had this week.
But I also like the feeling of being out in a light jacket and walking through trails. Autumn brings to me memories of visiting my grandfather who was a competitive walker for a time and going on those trails with him.
There is no shortage of that sort of opportunity in Lac La Biche County, not with the open skies, nature parks and seemingly endless acres of trees. Every season has its joys, the fall can be very much appreciated for those it has as well.
