Fall Reflections

What Fall means to me.

Covering the pool. Hate that, even though I know the water will soon be too cold even for testing with a toe. I just get a visual uplift from the rippling surface of the pool reflected by the sun on my living room ceiling. Not to mention the sight of the blue water and the pots of greenery surrounding the pool. (Even when it's too cold to use the pool.)

Packing for my month at the beach. Okay, I have a computer-generated list that I use year after year that makles the job easier. But still, I have to gather all that stuff. And I always ... always take too much. Too many clothes. Too many shoes. And the hubs always says, "I don't know if we're going to get it all in." That's a traditional rite. He has to say that. And in the back of my mind - though I shove it away - is the negative thought that what goes in the car must eventually come out of the car. And go back in and out again!

The beach. Spending time first with my family - my husband, my sister and brother-in-law, various visitors (at times our children visit) and especially my mother, who celebrated her 90th birthday this spring. Sitting under the blue beach umbrellas, taking long early morning walks on the beach to watch the sun rise, hunting for sand dollars and unusual shells, seeing dolphins roll, sea turtles gliding by, manta rays flipping their way up the beach, sting rays hiding in the sand, the occasional shark zigging by, crabs scurrying everywhere; I enjoy the sea in all its varying personalities and the cold wet sand between my toes. I love the pink, orange streaks of light at sun set, the way the big firey ball hangs suspended as if on a yo-yo string until it suddenly plops down and disappears behind the horizan. I love the way people congregate for the 'light show' at that time every evening and then linger on the sand until darkness falls. And I love seeing old friends who come to the beach every year when we do.

The changing seasons. I leave home when it still looks and feels like summer. I spend a month at the beach in 'summer heat' with the AC on 24-7 and most of my waking moments wearing swim suits or shorts and tank tops. and flipflops. And I return home in long sleeves and jeans to very cool weather with the furnace running. To gorgeous red, yellow, orange and brown leaves clinging to bare branches and cluttering the ground.

Coming back home - except for that un-packing thing - I love being back home. But it takes me days to unload everything and get it all put away. I don't mind washing multiple loads of clothes, but that searching for a place to fold them away or hang them up now that they are out of season is no fun! It goes without saying that I missed Ron for these last three weeks, in spite of the nightly phone calls and the daily series of text messages. Just good to be back together, to know I can stretch out a hand and curl mine in his.

Getting back to church and Bible study groups, re-connecting with church friends and getting re-involved in teaching Sunday School. And this year I came back to a newly transformed sanctuary - out with the old, in with the new while I was away - new carpet, new upholstery, redesigned pulpit area. All more beautiful than I imagined.

Upon my return this fall,  I also legally registered the editing business. Went to the county seat where the courthouse is located and certified my "business under an assumed name."  Pretty weird, huh. I told the clerks it sounded highly illegal! Editing Courtney's rough drafts, AKA "WriteWay Consulting"! But it was a fun thing to do, and I look forward to working with her on many, many more manuscripts.

Uncertain weather. You never know whether you need long sleeves, a sweatshirt, a winter coat or a short sleeve tee-shirt! The saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Kentucky, wait five minutes and it will change." At this time of the year, it's even more uncertain.

Harvest. On corn years, the harvest takes place before I return. This is a soy bean year, so the harvest will take place several weeks after my return. Dust in the air, the earthy smell, naked fields, the whir of big machinery and the accompanying allergy sniffles that are a given!

Dancing With the Stars. Okay. That's just me.

Cardinal Baseball. For the past two years they've made it into the post season.

Holidays and decorating and shopping.  A very busy time of year.

I'm sure there are other personal Signs of Fall, and they'll probably come to mind in the middle of the night ... but these will do for now!