I like the fall. It’s not that I am getting older and feel as if I have reached the fall cycle in my own life. No, I’ve always loved the fall, the colors, the smell and the brisk temperatures outside that require a sweatshirt or sweater.
We have a little time until it’s officially fall, but the temperatures at night are dropping into the fifties and the morning is damp and cool. The oppressive heat of summer begins to fade as fresh air now carries different allergens upon its breeze. Love it, can’t say enough about it. *sneeze*
I’ve a crush on October, one of the coolest months. S(H)e wears browns, oranges and muted purple in a coat that covers the countryside. S(H)e tricks you into thinking its going to stay warm, then teases with nights in the thirties. And at the end of the month, you celebrate all that is other-worldly, a day that the veil between what is normal and gentle collides with all that is paranormal and needy. And it’s so cool that we celebrate it. I love it so much that the story in Shaking Off the Dust takes place during the month of October. You see how I express my adoration.
It’s still a few weeks until then. I’m impatient to see the leaves in a riot of color. Every kind of chocolate is now available in small bite sized pieces, small enough to indulge, but not over indulge. (Assuming I had that kind of will power.) The costumes for Halloween are out for view and never in my size. Oh well, I am just the gal that answers the door and hands out the good stuff.
The fall includes all of the best holidays too! I can give thanks before I get my Christmas list or presents. Cool and freaky sales happen every weekend from November till Christmas. Seriously, what’s not to like about fall? This fall is an even bigger celebration, because my first ever published book comes out in Print the end of November, so it’s a double thank you to the universe. I set up a book signing with my local Barnes and Nobles this week, so it’s all kinds of firsts. I believe that I will be creating my own special holiday and hope it becomes an annual event. I will call it the dreams to fruition day.
What day is that for each of you? Tell me about your most adored month or day.
Rhianna
Every once in a while something happens that causes you to pause a moment and see where you are, how you are and what you are. That happened this week. One of the girls at work didn’t show up on Monday, and after many worried phone calls the police were sent to her home and discovered she had died over the weekend sometime.
It stops you in your tracks and makes you ask…” what is the purpose of it all”. What is our purpose in it all?
That personal theory that I’ve held on to says, there is no reason in death, only purpose in life. How does it fare when it takes on the reflection of someone else’s lifetime? I only know her from the stand point of where Kathy’s life intersected with mine. She was strong and fierce and like all of us, a pain in the ass sometimes. She was a presence to contend with, one who was felt when ever she was around. She made me laugh and often had insightful comments to share. She wanted better things from her life and was not quite satisfied. Like every one else I know, she was frustrated with how things were and impatient for how things should be. And in those ways she was very much like me.
So, what is the meaning or purpose? In her role as an ER nurse she saved many lives and lessened the mark of pain or injury for thousands of individuals over the years, was one of those people someone who will change the world? Did she create someone from her body that has ensured her immortality though her daughters? Was her presence as part of her family, job or friendships enough to make our world somewhat better? Was there something she said or did that has become the place mark of her presence on this world?
Yes.
Kathy Russell passed this way. She shared her talents, her sense of humor, her skills as a nurse, her love as a mother, daughter, sister and friend. Her life may seem to be lost in the communal energy of what makes us grow as people, but it does not diminish what she contributed. I wish I had known her better, but I do know that I am a better person for knowing Kathy.
I thought I’d just tell you a bit about my last week. I’ve been mostly whining about a tooth ache that is still hanging on. It’s an infected crown, the dentist barely took a look, x rayed and declared it was infected. So I left shortly after with a script for an antibiotic and pain meds.
What I discovered is that Advil/Ibuprofen in high doses is better for a tooth ache than prescription pain meds. In fact it is the only thing that helps. Still, after nearly seven days, it shouldn’t continue to keep me awake and make me feel like sticking a knife in my hand to take my mind off my face. I see my dentist again tomorrow.
Okay, that subject is over, on to the next…;)
As you may have heard there was a hurricane passing through the gulf coast this weekend. My brother and his family live in a suburb of New Orleans. He is a veterinarian and by the weekend 187 animals had been dropped off “for the HOLIDAYS.” So he and his fellow Vets and staff stayed at the Animal Hospital for the duration again. They stayed there for Katrina.
Now, don’t feel too sorry for them. The Hospital is not that old and was built with hurricanes in mind. They have a generator running when the electricity goes off. (I think it was pretty terrible after Katrina though). But he’s already been to check out the house that had to be rebuilt after Katrina and said not even a broken glass occurred to the family home and the electricity is working. He’s a good man, he is stubborn, but he cares about many things. Like most men, he doesn’t talk about what he cares about. He just does what he knows is right.
They learned so much from the last hurricane; how to be prepared, mostly to just get the hell out of the area. His wife went to visit family in Alabama, his son went to stay with his mom in northern Louisiana and his daughter went to Austin to hang with some friends. He’s good to animals, good to his family and a decent scrabble player. What else can you say about the guy? I generally claim to know him when he’s around.
So, all in all it’s been a good week. My brother and his family are fine. I’ll get over my tooth ache, soon I hope and then the sun will shine on the gulf coast and maybe here in Indiana too.
