October Road

There is a recurring image in my mind’s eye. That image is the view while traveling a country road with the autumn sunshine radiating through leaves of gold and crimson, green and brown, bringing a sense of warmth and comfort. The image is of a day obviously shorter than the one before, with nature trying to cram as much in it as possible. The autumn day understands that the cold, the snow and the darkness is right around the corner and intends to make the most of what is left. The image is that of the October Road.

Of all the differing paths I follow, the October Road is my favorite. My favorite month, my favorite season, my favorite set of activities, my favorite scenes and scenery – the October Road winds through them all.   The trees leave September green and full and by the end of October they are bare. The October Road nimbly travels through the changes in life, from green and ordinary through spectacular color to a state of rest and preparation for the rush of spring.

One could say that I favor the October Road because that seems to be the phase of life that I am in. But, no, it has always been my favorite – as far back as I can remember. October is certain. Summer can be rainy, can be dry, can be hot, can be humid, and winters are known as mild or harsh. Spring is unpredictable. October is a known commodity. It will start out relatively warm and end relatively cool. There will be rain, there will be sun. Frost will peak its head back into the picture. There will be color and it will fade. Sweaters and jackets will reappear from a season of hibernation. It will be dark when you get out of bed in the morning and it will get dark soon after supper. While the sun is out, however, Glory be to God!

My October Road takes me several times through the Appalachians between the Commonwealths of Virginia and Kentucky, through the Blue Ridge Mountains and through the Shenandoah Valley. It takes me over Afton Mountain, through Northeast Kentucky along the Ohio River to its confluence with the Big Sandy and along the New/Kanawha River to Sandstone Mountain. My October road runs to Central Kentucky: Lexington, Frankfort, Versailles, and Midway.

And the road carries me to October’s venues. Scott Stadium on the Grounds of Mr. Jefferson’s University, is where I toiled and played, cheered, questioned, partied, cried, cussed and exhorted.   The Lawn is between his Rotunda, his Lawn rooms and Pavilions down to the statue of Homer and Cabell Hall, where every visit is magical, restorative, and peaceful – the purple shadows, the NM runs, watching Hillary and Jamie chase and be chased by Caroline and Camden while sit on my darn scooter and tear up. Where Cavman vanquishes his foes. Where I have eaten Oysters fresh from the Chesapeake with my Brothers. The big red bow tie in 1973 with Mattingley & Moore.

Venues such as the Corner, with visits to Mincers (for every kind of UVa t-shirt known to mankind,) to the College Inn, and the White Spot (home of the Gusburger.) Bodo’s Bagels. Michie Tavern, Monticello and the Jefferson Winery.

Venues as incomparable as the Mecca of thoroughbreds – Keeneland, with its burgoo, co-eds in sun dresses at 45 degrees (God love ‘em!) and impressively bred horses running to glory. The ‘horsey set’ and the ‘great unwashed’, side by side and having a great time. Making periodic donations to the Keeneland Trust (i.e., a losing ticket.)  The October road carries me to the UK Campus and Commonwealth Stadium, site of my law school activities and the best tailgating around. UK football, one day, may deserve its fans. This year it carried me to the annual meeting of the Southern Conference of Bar Presidents the KBA hosted in Lexington – where our guests were treated to the best of the Bluegrass.

Maybe, someday my October road will carry me to Great American Ballpark for a Reds World Series.

Venues as grandiose as the Woodford Reserve Distillery on the banks of a picturesque limestone creek in the middle of Woodford County horse farms and as simple as my fraternity brother Jim Tucker’s daughter’s house in Cincinnati for a lovely dinner party with Jim and Cathy, Ryan and Kathryn, their dog River (as big as a pony) and the cat that sat on my shoulder.

Venues as close Erlanger, on my own Twinridge deck, where my tomato plant keeps developing red pears, where the golden sunlight filters through my windows, and where Doe Run Lake suddenly re-appears after a season of camouflage, reveal the splendor of autumn. The sugar maples explode with color on Erlanger Road, the Canadian Geese and Mallard Ducks fly over kids practicing football on their way to a watery landing in a pond somewhere. The garden winds down with kale, collards and brussel sprouts thriving in the cooler weather.

As do all things, October ends. But the spectacular October Road ends as it should – with fun and whimsy – with candy and caramel apples and popcorn – with laughter and children - with spiced warm drinks, a warm fire and good friends celebrating a good, old fashioned BOO!

I wonder where the next October road shall take me.  Oh, the anticipation. Where does your October road take you?