Design Psychology Exercise - Past

August has approached the boarders of Kentucky and slowly moved over those oh so famous rolling hills. As it has passed, a palette of warm colors have replaced the greens in the wake of autumn. My little brother and I are thrilled, as little kits usually are to be in the outdoors exploring. I take extra reverence in this time, knowing it is one of the shortest seasons experienced, gone in the drop of a leaf. The leaves that are dropping, detach themselves from the water maple trees towering over me, and spiral down with a pause, as if to enjoy the view of the vibrant gold, fire red, and sunset orange landscape of my homes backyard. Those five pointed leaves just went on the ride of their lives.

I walk under these rustling trees that have begun to expose their skeletal branch network. It is as if a surgery is being performed on the tree and I am seeing it in the operating room of life. There is a mysterious quality in the air. I proceed to the sea of dead among the falling stars. The dead corn stalks sway in the wind, their papery like leaves flap up and down with a sense of rigidity with that long straw forming the spine of their structure. They brush against each other as people do in the busy streets, except these make a rasping sound.

I make my way down the edge of this khaki wall and start to walk on the crushed, jagged rock that forms the gravel driveway adjacent to the rustling cornfield. I am breathing in the cool air of autumn with its crisp smell that cleans my soul. It does not touch but the few exposed places, my hands and face, for the rest of my body repels the cold touch by my long sleeved shirt. Regardless of this barrier, the chilled air enters my as I breathe and completely washes through every cell in my body...taking art of my essence with it, and leaving behind a connectedness to the change in nature. and the death occurring. There is an earthy smell in the air that feels so comfortable, yet so eerie. That eerie feeling intrigues me.

My brother and I decide to stake out on the small hill of grass that is pressed between the driveway and field. We grab patchwork blankets and piles of leaves to begin building our station. Dimmed sun rays start to move across our property and house, turning the cream plastic siding, orange. My brother and I watch this as we play staking out on the hill the rest of the evening.