Patches of red, gold and burgundy dotted the forested mountain slopes. I was amazed at what a difference those few days had made. Those in both Ohio and Virginia were turning but still had a ways to go. The leaves in the mountains of Western Maryland and Northern West Virginia were near their peak. I had traveled the same roads from Ohio to Virginia just after visiting Ivan the previous week. Paying my respects to the family became a personal priority. The leaves were still coloring up when I left Virginias majestic Shenandoah Valley the next day to return home for Ivans viewing.
#Metaphor for autumn trees series#
I wanted Tim to share in the joy of seeing a World Series game in Cleveland with me. I hoped beyond hope that they would make it, and they had. I was fortunate to have secured tickets for the opening World Series game long before the Cleveland club even began the postseason. When I invited him to the first game of the World Series, I think he fell over. Right after the final out I called my friend Tim, also an avid Indians fan. It was a bittersweet moment, one that Ivan would have relished with me. Later that same evening joy overcame my sadness as my favorite team, the Cleveland Indians, claimed Major League Baseballs American League pennant.
Our intimate group had welcomed him in, and he contributed far more than his usually quiet demeanor would have suggested. Still, when I heard the sad news, tears of sorrow flowed for Ivan and his family. I had visited with him in the hospital only a week earlier, knowing that his time was near. Ivan was a valued member of the cancer support group to which I belong. That realization confronted me as the autumn leaves reached their vibrant peak when I received word of Ivans death in the middle of the afternoon. But in a flash or a persistent wind, the trees all stand leafless. In our busied lives, however, the transition from green to gold seems to take forever. With our numerous stands of mixed hardwoods, I always look forward to falls colorful leaf display.
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