FMF: Together

This season inevitably brings out the feelings of memories, closeness, spending time. A kaleidoscope of leaves like a painting, crunching under feet, making haphazard piles for jumping. Crisp air, carving pumpkins and little munchkins dressed up as their favorite character.

Trick or treat is a tradition that we always participated in when I was a little girl. October was a magical time and we spent lots of time outdoors, sharing adventures.

The cooler air, nostalgic smells and holiday fare bring up some very vivid and palpable memories. Sometimes so thick and present that I have to choke back tears, or else let them fall.

It's because autumn was the time of year my dad loved best. It is also bittersweet because 2 years ago during this very season is when we discovered he was ill and lost him a short five and half weeks later. That season when Adelle's 'Someone Like You' was hot on the charts and it seemed to follow me on those rainy October and November days back and forth to the hospital to visit my dad. Strange that this song affected me so, but in my head at that time the song was about my parents love story and the melody, words and her vivid voice cut through my heart like a knife.

I still can't listen to that song without taking pause. Remembering all of their good times, together times as a family growing up.

It makes me want to stop the clock and keep my boys sweet and innocent and little and allow them to experience the kind of togetherness my parents created for my sister and I all the time, but especially so wonderfully during the holiday months. It is picture perfect in my mind.

This one's for you Dad, and for teaching me what it meant to be together.