As they say, "fall is in the air."  Two days ago, it was in the 90's here in San Angelo, and yesterday the high was 67 degrees, marking our first official major cool front.
                                                      
This is a special time of the year, and a period that tugs at our primal make up.  You hear much about spring bringing new life and new opportunity, but for me, autumn brings out new life, or maybe creates vigor for life, more so than any time of the year.  These cool days; Friday night lights; doves wrapped in bacon; those ominous dark, gray clouds; the comforting feel of a sweater going on for the first time; and of course, the turning of fall foliage.  Boy, if you don't have the urge to venture outside in conditions like this, you may want to pinch yourself or check your pulse.
 
I love this time of year.  But, I must admit, that due to the nature of my professional schedule, I am often conflicted with an emotional swing ranging from the pressures and anxieties associated with this being our "go time," to the more subdued and earthy contentment that autumn pleasure brings.  I guess I would like to spend more time taking in high school football games, hunting with my kids, hanging out by the BBQ pit with friends, and sleeping in on Saturday mornings, but these activities do not fit in well with my schedule or pace during this time of the year.  Our WSI team is running on all cylinders right now, and it is my duty to them and my commitment to our clients, to ensure that obligations are met and performance excellence is achieved.  So, I must continue down a path that at times alienates me from indulging in those innate urges to consume our fall pleasures, but none the less, I still find this to be an exciting and pleasurable time of the year, and I'll figure out a way to let my guard down and take a sip here and there, attending a game, enjoying hot coffee on the back porch, and sneaking in a little hunting time.
 
One aspect of characterization that is sometimes held for our autumn period, and one that I do not subscribe to, is the notion that autumn signals a timing of finality, a closure, or even a dying of certain things that are wild, such as the leaves on trees, or wild flowers, or insects, and things such as that.  True, senescence in nature is occasionally most noticeable during the fall, especially through the morphed changes of our landscape, but it is my sentiment that in order to appreciate life, you must also appreciate death.  So from my perch, autumn does not signal closure, but instead, is a renewal of energy and is a reminder of our need to be outside.  French author, Albert Camus, described it well with his observation that, "autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."  Those who live in a region pronounced with the turning of fall foliage can surely appreciate Mr. Camus' sentiment.
 
I hope you find some time to get outside sometime soon.  Take if in.  Enjoy.  Don't be afraid to indulge in nature's pleasure.  Matter of fact, I think I will do just that, right now, with a hot cup of latte on my back porch, watching the sunrise in the cool morning air.  Hope to see you in camp.
 
Cheers,

Greg Simons, Wildlife Systems, Inc.
San Angelo, TX 76902
325.655.0877
www.wildlifesystems.com