I love the fall. I really do. I love the crispness in the air, the smell of the fallen leaves, the warm of hot tea or cider. I love eating soup and going apple-picking. I really love the fall. As I said once before, the fall reminds me so much of Manny.
Some people think it's sad when I say things like this. It's not sad for me. It's not sad for me to remember my brother. I am so grateful for these moments. For the chilly wind that makes me remember when I would see him walking home from the bus stop, for the crunch of the leaves that reminds me of times when we would be playing basketball outside, for the fall decorations that bring back Halloweens and Thanksgivings and all of those everyday autumn rituals that we so often take for granted because we never really imagine that they could end. I am grateful for my memories. I like to believe that when I am remembering Manny in these moments, he is remembering me too, and for an instant, we are doing something together again.
