The season for change

‘Tis the season for change; be it personal change or changes soon to come.  Things seem to be setting themselves back on the right path as we fall back into the autumn months.  Those of us in Texas are finally being released from the grips of fire and brimstone so that we now can enjoy life outside the confines of an air conditioned building or the throws of sweat soaked clothing.

Normally, the much anticipated foliage color changes are the highlights of any fall outing but you see, that experience is already over here in Texas as a few months ago the change occurred due not to cooler weather but instead dangerous drought, raging wildfires, and excessive heat. 

As the season changes so does everything around us.  Around the country, small towns blossom to life on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons as crowds hurry to football games and to fall festivals.  While spring is often thought of the time for things to blossom and grow, I disagree and believe that fall is that magical time of the year.  Things simply slow down, people become merrier, and life seems to renew itself.  To me there is nothing more magical than a cool, crisp fall day when you can toss a football around with your friends or roast marshmallows over a fire with loved ones.  Sure the days get shorter as nightfall seems to envelope the world shortly after lunch but my happiness only appears to grow during this time. 

Shannon is an all too perfect example of change as she morphs into an ever-growing baby vessel.  It seems not too long ago that she was only just beginning to show the signs and symptoms of pregnancy (yes, I said symptoms as pregnancy seems not too far removed from carrying a parasitic being that would normally be treated with medication or some such medical procedure).  This is a change that I have readily accepted with open arms and anticipate each change with my own bated breath.  Now in our 6^th month of pregnancy, there is no doubting that Shannon is pregnant as evidenced by the basketball that has wound up in her stomach (and I thought she didn’t even like basketball).   And with those changes, fall has become an even more fascinating time to me and one I will remember for the rest of my days.

Changes are so fraught with turmoil that instead of being celebrated, they are often loathed like visits from the in-laws or the NCAA’s football BCS system.  Though change is often times good, it does not always happen without strife.

As our parenthood adventure nears, the thoughts of change that will surely affect us seem insurmountable at times.  No longer will Shannon and I be able to go to wherever the wind blows us as we will surely have to lug the little one with us.  The freedom that comes with being child-free is at once breathtaking all the while it leaves you empty.  The days of spending Saturdays mindlessly watching football will be curtailed as fatherly duties will come first whether that may be dance recitals or afternoon tea parties.  This fact does not escape me and my selfishness towards doing what I want will instead be dictated by what she (Hannah or Charlotte) wants.  Not only have I signed off on the changes in my plans but I have fully embraced and welcome them as not a bother but as a new adventure.  Only this new adventure will feature a new heroine with her daddy as her sidekick. 

‘Tis the season for change and you either accept it or go willingly or you get swallowed up in it as it will no doubt stop for no one.