George Singleton shares thoughts on 'Indian Summer,' cycle of man's life

Flowing stream near Peterman

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Almost Indian summer: Seasons compare to life cycle,” was originally published in the Sept. 22, 1977 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Within a few short days, the lazy days of Indian summer will be with us. With the coming of cool mornings and leaves changing colors, the lust for wandering will burst forth in most of us.

Work will be harder to perform, tasks that usually require very little time will grow tremendous in size, and the calling of distant places will grow louder from across the hills.

Since the days of October or Indian Summer, are my favorite time of year, I would like to share with you the reasons why we should look forward to these days and enjoy each one to the fullest.

This time of year makes one feel that it’s time to slow the hectic pace of life down a bit and look around and take stock of what is around us.

To compare the seasons of the year to the life of an individual might not be proper, but there are circumstances that run parallel across the pages of time.

This season is the time to prepare for the winter months, just as one prepares for the years when time and age have taken their toll and the eternal sunset can be seen in the distance.

This is a time when one can slip to a secluded spot, be quiet, be with himself, and make the changes for the journey ahead.

And this is the time when one might find total peace with his God beside a small stream or sitting quietly atop a hill.

This can also be the time when the words of forgiveness take on more meaning and all differences are forgiven and forgotten.

Finally, as one walks beside the still streams and listens to the falling leaves and he sees the Master Painter changing the land with the giant strokes of his brush, he will then know that we too will change and take on a different appearance.

Where once there was youth and restlessness, and the impatience that comes with youth, there will be caution and patience.

Where once there was beauty and vibrant color, there is grayness and aging.

Where once no thought was given to the journey ahead, now is a time for preparing.

The days of Indian Summer are not a time to be sad but a time when one can find himself or herself and make arrangements for the road ahead.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, was bitten at least twice by venomous snakes, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)