FAME of Oct. 22th - Inspired by Autumn

We discussed three topics Yoko prepared and other things related to autumn.

#1 Your perception of the beginning of autumn.
This started with one participant's translation of the topic as "chiisai aki miituketa ♪." Cool and crisp air, rapidly shortening daytime, autumn harvest seen at stores, chirping of insects, clearly visible stars and the moon, form of the clouds, smell of the air (of special plants,) shouts of children at athletic meeting, increased appetite, becoming melancholic, a few small acorns fallen to the ground, etc.

#2 Color of autumn.
Brown, shades of red, orange, yellow, shades of pink (cosmos), white (buckwheat flowers, or Chinese 白秋), gold (rice paddies ready for reaping), silver (pampas grass shining in the sun), wine color, orange and black (of Halloween,) any deep color, etc.

#3 Mood/sentiments of autumn.
Comfortable, relaxed, refreshed, retrospective, sad and lonely, sense of maturity and fruitfulness mixed with sense of loss, etc.

Then we read "To Autumn" of John Keats.

To recap some of the vocabulary we learned; the autumnal equinox, winter solstice, harvest moon, pale, conspicuous, Japanese larch, bell ring insect, All Saints Day, All Hallows Eve, Jack O'Lantern, incorporate, pulley, the tropic of Cancer, the tropic of Capricorn, (and what else?)

There is a cycle from beginning to end in a day, in a month, in a year, spirally going forth, and in our life. If we apply the season to our life, we might be at our mid summer, late summer, or early autumn?

Lastly I'll introduce my favorite expression: red maple tree leaves symbolize "the final burst of flame of fire, of life." Like cherry blossoms viewing in spring, Japanese have enjoyed excursion to view autumn foliage, especially maple leaves, from the ancient time. The brilliant red of Japanese maple trees are the last to drop their leaves, and then autumn gives way to winter.

Conclusion of the day? We will enjoy the splendor of autumn, and looong autumn of our life.