Way back in 1986 my first encounter with fall was in
the USA. In the States they call it Fall. Well, Autumn to me has a subtle
meaning. Something beautiful. Fall has a direct meaning. Images of falling
leaves and falling temperatures. October is as always a bit cooling. The temperature
keep dropping until Winter. The sun still shines yet daylight is shortening. Day
after day daylight becomes shorter and shorter. My family and I was in Pittsburgh.
A beautiful city in the state of Pennsylvania. It sounded Romanian or Albanian.
Eastern Europe for that matter. Pittsburgh is a hilly city. Hills and
undulating slopes around and abound. I guess
Fall is the most captivating season. After schorching heat in Summer, the
weather cools off. Transforming all vegetation into myrad of red, brown and
yellow in colours. Everywhere you turn your eyes will be feasting on those
colours. Subhanallah. It excites the eyes of the beholder. People walks endless
hours. Savouring the cool air. Enjoying the colours. The scenery. There is not
enough words to describe in full. Seeing is believing. At that particular time,
it was an experience of a life time. Alhamdulillah, I was blessed with a second
chance. It was Canada in 1990. Nevertheless my experience in the States left a
huge mark in my mind. A brief encounter yet stays forever in my memory.
Then it happens. Those colours are dropping to the
ground. The whistling wind sways the twigs and branches. Dropping the leaves in
sequence. Now you see colours down on the ground and on trees. The ground
becomes congested with fallen leaves. At the same time the trees shed their
leaves until all the branches and twigs are barren. Nearing Winter all the
vegetation are hibernating. Waiting for the next condusive sunshines in Spring.
It was in the States I understood the meaning of Winter, Spring, Summer and
Fall/Autumn. Reading or seeing images in print or electronic devices rarely
gives you the exact understanding. It takes every three months for each season.
Yet the true fact is Spring could be an elongated Winter. And for that matter
Fall could be shortened by Winter. It depends on the latitudes the place is
situated. The further north the more cooling season that you experience. Well,
Fall is still a little warm. Only the breeze is enjoyable. Warm to a certain
degree. Cool in the morning and late afternoon. Quite cool at night. Most days
it is dry. The whole countryside is very picturesque. For a first timer like
me, it created an image beyond imagination.
I am now in Cairo. Situated in the Northern
Hemisphere. The four seasons are here. The past Summer was warm and dry. Mind you, rain is something very scarce. They
say only four times a year. Four times a year. The rains are synonymous with
the changing of seasons. There is no rain in every season. It falls in between
sesaons. I have yet to experience those rains. InsyaAllah, very soon. Winter is
coming at the end of November. I stay in Nasr City. Trees are abound along the
roads. But there is no colour change. The leaves stay green. A little disappointment.
But then Allah determines the nature of everything. We have to accept the
decree bestowed unto us. In every aspects of our lives Allah determines the
best that can be for us. Thus Cairo is different from USA or Canada. A different
experience altogather. Still the weather is cooling. Of course it stays dry.
Maybe life is a changing seasons. But is not
repeated. There is no round cycle. It is a changing pattern. Depicting changes
in age and every connecting images of a growing person from childhood to
manhood. From being matured to being old. For me my Spring was something in the
past. Gone also was my Summer. Although Spring and Summer still stay in my
heart, biologically I am in Fall. Colours are abound around me. Yet those
colours are fading. Shedding little by little. Every human is waiting for that
barren branches and twigs. Maybe a shade of green here and there. The red,
brown and yellow colours are very prominent. I can feel those colours falling
one by one. The end is always near. Just like fallen leaves they leave a mark. Collected
and crafted into something creative. Framed to be gauged by searching eyes. It could be generation after generation as a symbol
of family heritage. When you are in Fall, you wait for that eminent Winter. Snow
and its whiteness will engulf everything on the ground. Cold, hard and
seemingly dead. But not human. Once that Winter in your life comes it will be
the end. You will never Spring into life anymore. Flaura and fauna will still flourish after
Winter and after every seasons.
There are reasons my being in Cairo. I would like to
build colours of my own. Captivating to see. Exciting to watch. Remembered forever.
Making vivid images that strike many souls. A little heritage for my
generation. InsyaAllah. Please pray for me.
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