Time is blowing like the leaves of the fall trees. I was so happy to see it arrive and now it is almost a month old. When it is two months old it feels like winter. Much of our lives have enjoyable short pleasures. We have to be ready to strike while the iron is hot. We must reach for the brass ring before the carousel does another revolution. We drink the fresh milk before it curdles. My birthday is Friday. I will be 68. The truth of my age does not seem real until I look at my reflection in the mirror. Who is the old man grinning back at me. MJ and I were talking in terms of decades of experience. You have to posses some grey hair to have the discussion. I remember the Ice Storm last winter. Limbs and tree trunks are still lieing in the Woods. As I sit and ponder I hear loud thuds that tell me trees really do fall in the woods.

‘I will make a fantastic birthday cake for the Old Man,’ Mr. Mole said. ‘He is a good friend and communes with us well,’ Mr. Mole continued. ‘I like the cut of his jib and he smokes an aromatic pipe tobacco,’ Mr. Mole laughed. ‘He says it is Autumn Harvest but I think he has some Turkish Delight mixed in the bowl,’ Mr. Mole postulated. ‘He is a commical sort with his big new leather hat and my how many photos he takes,’ Mr. Mole laughed. ‘It seems he takes pictures of the same things each day,’ Mole danced about in glee. ‘The Old Man has a passion for the Woods and photography that is unparralled,’ Mr. Mole proclaimed.

‘The Old Man talks to the trees and they have a vibrant conversation,’ Mr. Bager observed. ‘The trees know the Old Man by name and greet him each morning in the heat of summer and the ice of winter,’ Mr. Badger noted. ‘I am bringing him a present of a antique compass as Old Man has little sense of direction,’ Badger winked and smiled. ‘He bandys about with no thought of where he is and no worries of when he will return,’ Badger laughed. ‘The Old Man underatands us and he is a member of our Community,’ Mr. Badger proclaimed.

‘I have the most elegant of walking sticks for Old Man,’ Mr. Toad said with aplomb. ‘He and I have much in common as we are both Renaissance creatures,’ Mr. Toad announced. ‘Old Man will look like a Prussian Priest with my Birthday Gift,’ Mr. Toad proclaimed. ‘After we enjoy Birthday Dinner at the Global Gourmet and quaff Dirty Martinnis at the Global Gourmet we will ride in my new Motor Car,’ Mr. Toad danced on one foot and then the other. ‘Old Man enjoys a ride in a convertable motor car as it reminds him of his youth with Neva J and Chet in 1963 when they rode in Neva J’s 1957 Chevy convertable,’ Toady sang.

‘Welcome to the Birthday Party of the Old Man,’ said Mr. Rat. ‘Old Man is our friend and he understands us,’ Ratty uttered. ‘He has a new Leather Outback Hat and a L.L. Bean shirt with snaps and a leather pocket cover,’ Ratty observed. ‘Old Man has a word to say,’ Ratty noted.

‘I am here by God’s grace and your goodwill,’ the Old Man said with a lilt. ‘I have seen good times and bad but this birthday with Jennifer and Jonathon MJ and Aaron is the heighth of my Birthday Joy,’ the Old Man proclaimed. ‘Another 68 is in order God willing and the creeks dont’s rise,’ the Old man laughed and danced the Hora…