Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps on Growing Old - Essay Example

That was how it was until he discovered he has cancer. The treatments he went through and the realities he faced during this period made him look back to how his life had been, which jumpstarts his process of viewing life differently.
It is obvious in Kooser’s writings that autumn is his favorite season. It is noticeable in his description of the “official morning of autumn, sunny, cool, and breezy..the leaves just beginning to fall..the last of the barn swallows have finally set out for the south” (Kooser, 77-8). He talks about the season in such a nostalgic tone, making readers realize that he is also talking about life and the passing of the years. Autumn is the season before winter, the season of cold white snow when everything is white, calm, and peaceful. Autumn epitomizes his life as he journeys towards his life’s end, where everything will be cold and peaceful. One would think that Kooser’s illness would cause him to view the autumn season or the autumn of his life in a bleak and bitter manner, but he narrates it objectively, saying that it is in autumn when “it is a spectacle to view thousands of geese --- in peaceful armies --- hissing, cackling, and gabbling..waddling along to certain destruction” (Kooser, 80). It is very much like his life, no matter how tame or calm his character is, he is now constantly smiling, narrating, laughing, and reminiscing of past things as he moves towards certain destruction, which could be pertained to death. In a way, it could be the author’s method of coping with his journey as he moves on with life, using metaphors to explain the passing of his life’s seasons towards an inevitable path. When he mentioned towards the latter part of the chapter “But it’s still a good life..not even a chicken digs for nothing” (Kooser, 111), Kooser made it clear to everyone that his life had been good, but seasons pass as they should.
As mentioned earlier, the book is about Kooser’s life and the intricate details that are stuck in his memory that molded his character. He divided the book into four chapters, and the winter chapter is more linked to Christmas and good feelings when he was younger. In this chapter, it seems the author relays the stories from only a few days ago. Some lines provided clues to how much Kooser remembers: “That was more than thirty years ago and is as vivid to me as if I had just looked up to see my uncle slowly passing my kitchen window” (Kooser, 140).
People would view Kooser’s life as colorful and meaningful, not because it was filled with extraordinary activities from childhood to adulthood. Nor did he come from an extraordinary family. From his narratives, their family and his childhood activities were similar to those of other kids. He vividly remembers Christmases shared with his family, especially when he used to make colorful bows for Christmas presents sold at their store (Kooser, 135). What makes Kooser’s life extraordinary and colorful is the way he sees the caring and concern among the people he has been with, and how he reminisces the ordinary things with the same feelings he felt during that past scenario.
The overall mood of the final chapter is light until it comes to the part where Kooser narrates the day they discovered his illness. Actually, the author’s tone and mood did not go through a great shift in this part. What could have been affecting the readers is the objective and light way Kooser recounts the events of that fateful day, much like he is narrating another Christmas anecdote or childhood hero. Even his line “I slept very little that night, sweating so badly that I soaked the sheets” (Kooser, 149) seems to have been shared in a lighthearted manner. Browsing towards the end of the chapter, one would see this line: “God had taken my donkey and helped me to find it again. You never know” (Kooser, 151) and find it to be like a metaphor for his life --- what he thought he lost and what he gained after all the realizations and reflections.
The two chapters can be described as something written by a person with a child-like character. Surely he is telling the truth when he mentioned that “Lentil” was his biggest influence in writing and life. The light mood, the play with words to describe the emotions that go with his memories reflect a character that has not aged despite the passing of several seasons and has not turned bitter by the unfortunate turn of events in the last few phases of his life.