The Chairs

I have been pondering why I have been feeling so nostalgic about the old metal chairs that are sitting out in the backyard surrounded by fallen leaves. I bought them this summer at a local antique store. I've wanted some for a while now and was so excited when I found them at a reasonable price. They are similar to some chairs my grandpa and grandma Merrill had.

All through my growing up years, I spent parts of many summers with my grandparents on their farm in Idaho. They had a yard and garden much like ours, only much, much bigger. I remember planting flowers in the early summer, picking peas, and using the riding lawn mower. I also remember trying to find places to hide when it was time to weed the garden, pick the raspberries, and other less desirable tasks. There was never a lack of work that needed to be done, but, there were many evenings spent sitting in the yard, enjoying the cooler weather and visiting with the many relatives that lived in the area. My grandparents had some old metal yard chairs and although they are not nearly as comfortable as some of the yard furniture we now enjoy, it always felt so good to be able sit and relax after the work of the day was done.

I had only seen the chairs in their summer setting so to now see them in the fall, it has made me a bit nostalgic. They belong only to summer, green grass and times when people can sit and relax and enjoy their little bounce. Not to the cold and dreariness of winter.

I put them away today. I'm feeling sad - I'm not really sure why. Is it because summer it truly over and we will have to endure months of cold and dreary weather before spring arrives? Or, is it the yearning for days gone by, loved ones that are gone and a time in life that was much simpler?