Unexpected autumn

Signs of change were in the air. Damp blades of grass almost hinting at frost. Leaves browned, fallen to the ground. Two chipmunks scrambling over a fallen acorn.

Signs of change in the Windy city, autumn was well on its way. With a new season comes change. A chance to see familiar surroundings in a new light.

It was under this mindset of something new that a few unexpected occurrences took place.

An old woman, slowly walking along where stone meets water. One arm decrepit and dangling wastefully toward the stone fence, daring to touch it, as if wishing for the touch of the world to return but unsure of what it might feel like. Her head bowed in quiet contemplation, or perhaps exhaustion. She had a small toy with her, two dangling balls at the end of a long string. She metronomically beat her back as if walking in a flagellant procession. Prayers and penitence asking for salvation from an unknown disease. Spooky, and fitting for the month of October.

A turn away from ghastly figures and towards the calm lake. Soothing. The sun shining down along a narrow strip, blinding the eyes, making it hard to focus. To my right a bobbing ball. Not a bobbing ball but a head. A human head. Thankfully arms connected. Arms wadding through the water, slowly making their way towards me, towards shore. But not in any rush. Slowly paddling through water that could not have been any warmer than 55 degrees. No matter, this person seemed to be indifferent to the elements, slowly slowly moving closer. With the sun to this person's back, there was an illuminating glow around them. Their calm controlled demeanor spoke of some coming revelation. A holy message?

These were not the expected visions on a cold Sunday morning. But with autumn's arrival, perhaps it is time to reconsider what is possible.