It is not autumn, but nor is it winter… though coldness casts its spell upon the world and the first light of morning is christened with white rising mists, the trees, though scantily clad, still bear the last remaining leaves of the autumn months. In this, the first week of June, I find myself walking down the grand corridor of Collins Street in Melbourne. Northerly blowing winds lift into the skies flat brown maple leaves which on a breath of air float gloriously past grand old buildings, dance gracefully around iron wrought lampposts, kiss the cobbled grey footpaths in their step, and assail upon street-front restaurant windows the warm and generous welcome of a familiar stranger.
On such a day, one cannot help but become enchanted by this beautiful old city. Its heritage buildings are infused with a residual charm, its oak-graced corridors marked by splendour, and amidst the fresh promise of winter; the air is assailed by the perfected aroma of freshly ground coffee emanating from quaint Italian coffeehouses and warmly lit cafes. There is a distinguished mark of familiarity about this place which impressions me like an old friend, assailing my mind with rich memories and cherished thoughts yet ever hinting at the inescapable progress of change and the latent unveiling of untold mysteries.
That is the beauty of life –cherishing all things old and forgotten, all things past and yet at the same time, kindling an unarticulated and untainted anticipation of the future. We may one day find ourselves standing on that very same cobbled stone street that we graced many years before… a large copper bell still hangs from a low hung beam, the decadent creations of the family-owned French Patisserie continue to allure passersby and the names of untold travelers are still etched upon the very same wooden door – yet though our surroundings may still bear the same distinguishable marks – we see the beauty of it with new eyes. Even moreso than the graduation from autumn to winter, the recollection of our past and embrace of the future is truly the most beautiful transition of life.
