There are so many things I love about this time of year: the cool, fall days (in a normal year), the changing of the colors of leaves, hay rides, bonfires, football and combine rides. I seem to have a lot of fond memories associated with autumn.

One of the sights that triggers a good memory is a combine in a field at dusk, its headlights reflecting through the soybean or corn dust as a farmer works into the wee morning hours. I didn’t like how my father was gone so much in the evening during harvest time, but I sure did enjoy combine rides. When I wasn’t riding along, I remember packing up a hot supper, wrapping it in a kitchen towel to stay warm, and driving to the edge of the field to meet my father. We’d have to wait until he returned to the end of the row, lower the tailgate and hop on the back of the truck, legs swinging, to keep him company while he ate.

As we drive home this time of year after the sun has gone down, my son and I count how many “eyes” we see in the field. I remind him to say a quick “thank you” to all those farmers out working long, hard hours in order for us to have food on our dinner table.

Until we walk again …