The tawny vista of autumn has canopied the earth as the seasonal harvest evaporates and dwindles like a rainbow in colour and bounty. Soon the darkening days will overshadow the heavens with misty grey skies and softened winter sunlight. The final exuberance of summer will burnish the trees and brighten the yards before capitulating seemingly overnight to nudity and steely iron hardwood.

MacLaren Orchards, 3376 Burnstown Road was the first stop this morning en route to the Renfrew hospital to meet with Dr. David A. Carver MD (surgeon and 2012 graduate of Dalhousie University where coincidentally I studied law, perhaps even graduating in the same year with his father who practices in PEI) to whom I have been directed concerning my recent diagnosis of Melanoma. The brief 45-minute journey from Almonte to Renfrew was a picturesque outing along the winding backcountry roads up and down the hills alongside expansive farmland dotted with assorted tree lines in varying colours from red to yellow and lingering evergreens. Already the sky has blurred with ominous dark clouds gathering in formidable assault on the horizon.

The medical encounter with the surgeon was overwhelmingly satisfactory.  Dr. Carver executed his duty skilfully and completely.  I left thinking of the advantage of a country hospital (though admittedly that may be a prejudice).  Nonetheless the overall experience (including the brief liaisons with medical staff, volunteers, front desk and parking) was one of complete gratification. As for the upcoming surgery and what effort if any flows from that, I cannot say further. But I can assure you that at this moment at least it does not obstruct my heightened view of life. I reiterated to my partner while driving home today that I have never enjoyed such an enhanced resource of living as I now do. Every day, every moment is a picture of ineffable description. Even now as I glance from the keyboard to the images beyond, across the fields and roaring winds in the distant trees, upriver upon the plateau of churning water, complicated by a mixture of rich hues and inexpressibly varied sky of blue and grey amidst softened white and purple, I can but utter a muted puff of approbation.