It happened almost 2 weeks ago. I pulled our minivan into the driveway, turned off the ignition, opened the door and stepped out. My feet hit the scattered, vibrant leaves with a crunch. As I made my way to the front porch, I started kicking the leaves around, almost in a child-like way. And just like that, I was taken back. The smells...the sounds...the memories.
There I was, a little girl living on 12th Street. It was an Autumn day in Ohio. My Dad would rake the leaves into a large pile and give me the go ahead to run and jump in that pile, to my heart's great delight! He didn't seem to mind that I had undone that perfect pile he had just spent time gathering. Again, he would rake them back into a pile and watch me giggle as I swam through the sea of leaves. I loved that! After a few more times of raking and jumping, it was time to transfer all the raked leaves into the wheelbarrow. Once the wheelbarrow was filled to the brim with those crisp colorful leaves, my Dad would hoist me up and set me right on top of that pile. He would then proceed to give me quite a thrilling ride through the yard, towards the final destination, where he would then dump the contents (including me!) into an even larger pile of leaves. It was awesome! I distinctly remember the smell of those fallen leaves, as I sat on top of them, holding on tight as my Dad whipped me around in that wheelbarrow. And that's the exact smell I experienced again, as a grown woman.
It really doesn't seem that long ago, in some ways. I remember those times so vividly. I really cannot think about those afternoons without smiling, almost feeling that same glee as I did when I was a child. I remember the crunch of the dried up leaves. I remember the smell of Fall. I remember the sound of the rake scraping along the ground. I remember feeling love. I remember my Dad's smile. I remember thinking how strong he was, pushing me effortlessly in that wheelbarrow. I'm not sure when I thought I had outgrown those days of running and jumping in the leaves, but it happened. I grew up, got married, and had a family of my own.
There I was, a little girl living on 12th Street. It was an Autumn day in Ohio. My Dad would rake the leaves into a large pile and give me the go ahead to run and jump in that pile, to my heart's great delight! He didn't seem to mind that I had undone that perfect pile he had just spent time gathering. Again, he would rake them back into a pile and watch me giggle as I swam through the sea of leaves. I loved that! After a few more times of raking and jumping, it was time to transfer all the raked leaves into the wheelbarrow. Once the wheelbarrow was filled to the brim with those crisp colorful leaves, my Dad would hoist me up and set me right on top of that pile. He would then proceed to give me quite a thrilling ride through the yard, towards the final destination, where he would then dump the contents (including me!) into an even larger pile of leaves. It was awesome! I distinctly remember the smell of those fallen leaves, as I sat on top of them, holding on tight as my Dad whipped me around in that wheelbarrow. And that's the exact smell I experienced again, as a grown woman.
It really doesn't seem that long ago, in some ways. I remember those times so vividly. I really cannot think about those afternoons without smiling, almost feeling that same glee as I did when I was a child. I remember the crunch of the dried up leaves. I remember the smell of Fall. I remember the sound of the rake scraping along the ground. I remember feeling love. I remember my Dad's smile. I remember thinking how strong he was, pushing me effortlessly in that wheelbarrow. I'm not sure when I thought I had outgrown those days of running and jumping in the leaves, but it happened. I grew up, got married, and had a family of my own.
Dad, what I wouldn't do to have those moments with you again. Those times you spent with me, even though it was just simply doing yard work, are forever ingrained in my mind. I'm still that little girl who sat atop the leaves, thankful that her Dad had time for just her, even amidst the mundane chores in life... like raking leaves. And even though God has us living far away from each other right now, know that the memories we have are always close in my heart. And for that, I am thankful.
My Dad and I after I bought my first car
