I walked outside this morning, and it was actually cool out. Flash called me at lunch and told me his morning errands, run on the bike, left him a bit nipply. Have you noticed that slight hint of crispness in the smell of the air? Or perhaps seen that occasional color in the sky that belies the onset of my favorite time of year? Yes, it would appear that Fall is here in more than just the calender sense.
How many remember Joe's dog, Hannah? She was a permanent fixture at Joe's Bike Shop for as long as I could remember. In her later years, her health was getting pretty bad. Some days she just couldn't bring herself to get up off the floor, and join Joey for the trip to the shop. It was quite sad, and I always worried about Joe having to cope with the idea of his long time partner's suffering. You could see it in his eyes, that it broke him up.
The last year or so, at the first sign of cool Fall weather, Hannah would experience the most entertaining rejuvenations. It was like the cold air gave her the strength to deny her failing body. She would bounce all around the shop, acting like a puppy again. She'd make her rounds of the lake, begging for leftover fries or sandwich scraps. Then she'd race back to see if she'd missed anything special back at the shop...like maybe lunch! It was damned hard to resist those soulful eyes looking up at you, when you knew that just 2 weeks earlier, you were sure each day was her last.
I miss ol' Hannah, as I'm sure many patrons of Lake Ella and Joe's Bike Shop do, as well. If you get a chance, go roll in the leaves with your feet up in the air. Lie in the grass with your tongue hanging out. Do whatever, just get outside and let the Fall air rekindle your playful side.
