Suddenly October

Those of you who have been regular readers of this column know that I truly love October. It has always been my favorite month, and I was not ashamed to share that fact with the reading public.
However, in 2009, my brother lost a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer in the middle of October. The son-in-law of some dear friends lost his long battle with cancer a few days later. Needless to say, October became, for me, a month that no longer held such a sweet place in my heart.
I found myself saying things like “Autumn is my favorite season” or “I love it when the leaves begin to fall.” I sort of just left October out of the conversation. And I didn’t know why.
Recently, I think I was able to be reconciled with October. I realized that seasons don’t determine when things go right or wrong. Seasons are, for all intents and purposes, blameless in the whole scheme of life. They just are.
I tried to put my thoughts down into words and came up with a song.
I offer it now as a tribute to Ernie, to Ross, and to all of those who have left us while still in the prime of their lives.
And I want to say, for what it’s worth, it’s nice to love October again.
Suddenly October
And suddenly October came
Came whispering in upon a gentle rain
September left without a sound
And suddenly October came
And suddenly October came
Brought the harvest of the summer grain
While winter waited in the wings
Suddenly October came
The world was waiting for the winds to change
For the landscape to be rearranged
Then one day without a warning
Suddenly October came
And suddenly October came
Like the murmur of a distant train
Like a soft breeze through the timber
Suddenly October came
And suddenly October came
Whipped the embers into roaring flames
The seasons don’t determine who’s to blame
But suddenly October came
We weren’t ready for the winds of change
For our lives to be rearranged
Then one day without a warning
Suddenly October came