Saturday, December 15, 2007

Seasons change

Isn't it interesting how we move from event to event in life using special holidays as cornerstones to tug us along?  It seems that we recently scurried along in our move towards Thanksgiving with our turkey in hand to only see its remains being tossed aside as the weekend gave way to the passion of Christmas.  Symbolically one holiday gives way to another much like the natural progression of life here on the planet.  From "Black Friday" forward we unwittingly are consumed by "everything Christmas" as begin to consciously attempt to "get into"the spirit with our favorite carols playing as we outdo last year with decorations around the house.  Shopping, planning, and decorating exhaust us as we also maintain the work grind as the days of December pass onward.  Would we want it any other way?  Every year it is the same, but that is not a bad thing, as "the same" often reveals some charitable and optimistic characteristics about those around us that we usually never notice.  One of the cosmic things about all of our holidays is that our involvement shows our character as we magically conjure up a time of passionate wonder and celebration throughout the year.  As we move toward the 25th let's all savor the good things about how we are energized anew around this event!  Shop, decorate, and socialize- but enjoy all of the nice things this season stirs within us all.  Merry Christmas!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Chill

Must be getting cold, because I am feeling comfortable. As the calender flips to November most of the leaves have fallen and memories of summer are fading in the same vein. Crisp autumn days have always left me with a warm feeling, as it seemingly leads me into a surrealistic dimension where it is neither too hot nor too cold. Think of how many wondrous things have been concocted by inhabitants of northern climes in response to a chillingly fresh thought! Brisk mornings leading to amazing contrasts of clouds sketched onto a vivid blue canvas is my idea of the greatest time of the year. However, this must not be a universal take, as I encounter plenty of people who grumble about frost and how difficult it is to get the temperature just right in their homes. As they sloth off to work many seem to bleat about being cold as they cling to their summer wardrobes, while those dressing for the season are bewildered by the random cries to crank up the heat. Mixing about over the past few days kept me gobsmacked by the number of shivering dismayed cries lamenting the loss of tropical breezes here in the hills. Get with the times! The calender has flipped to November and it is normal to have a bracing chill in the air. Enjoy the moment, and take a deep breath to sustain you through the upcoming mind boggling approaching holiday season.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Cows to us

Often, or so it has been said, when taking leisurely jaunts across the hills and dales, I've often noticed that the bovine creatures in our midst never cast their gazes heavenward as they are always engrossed in chomping vegetation. Did you ever ponder that one of the main differences between us and the animals around us is that they lack the tendency to pause to reflect? It seems that at times we tend to descend to the levels of beasts of burden as we get so consumed by our livelihood or social concerns that we fail to "stop to smell the roses" As of late, the circle of friends and peers about me has blinded me with smoke and mirrors as I've allowed myself to become bogged down by the matters of the day and the worries of tomorrow. In the grand scheme of things, allowing trivial things to distract and stress us out is not much different than a cow spending every waking moment groveling for grub with its head never gazing upward. Lessons in life are often best learned in simple ways! Go figure!

Monday, September 24, 2007

Third down

Suddenly the media is filled with pigskin news.  Did you ever notice that as summer rusts into fall we have a palette of distractions around us?  To battle the emotional let down from the loss of summer breezes we desperately spin around looking for something new to consume and distract us.  Evolving offerings about us come in a variety of shapes, sizes , and colors.  The sports world gets all abuzz with action and most seem to jump into some football camp, either local or national.  No matter the nation, everyone seems to follow the pattern.  To those that are a bit less sport minded it seems they swiftly go into a trance to either decorate their lodgings for the season or switch their wardrobe to tones of oranges, maroons, and browns.  Youth gleefully returns to school with sleepy but hopeful eyes.  In every venue the concert and stage worlds seem to illuminate as the air chills.  No matter your local climate, the traditions of a chilling autumn dictate an increase in activity.  On top of all of this is a world seemingly caught up in holiday cheer as shoppers dictate the success of our economy in their annual spending spree.  Is it all coincidence that we become so active as the leaves tumble?  It is as if it is "third down with inches to go," and everyone must make that last desperate attempt to score before the chill of winter freezes us into a deep sleep.  Enjoy the season.

Monday, September 17, 2007

September slides by...

Mid-month, and the seasonal change is afoot! We blissfully swirl along enjoying "those hazy lazy days of summer" and suddenly are awakened to reality as the blistering heat of the day gives way to crisp temperatures- first as an oddity mixed into the warm days, but gradually becoming the norm as we accept autumn and its falling leaves, hillsides of color, and the eventual talk of "when will we get our first frost?" Seasonal changes have a way of creeping up on us, as we are so consumed by our day-to-day lives that we seemingly are surprised that it suddenly is fall. Symbolically seasonal changes stir a time of reflection in many of us, as we begin to relate the harvest rusting look to the natural progression of life. Just as our aging creeps up on us, we allow much of what stirs about us to be unnoticed as we lack a global vision in our daily struggles. Not to be feared, we should embrace this comparison between the progression of our lives to the changing seasons, as it can fill us with a newfound understanding of our lot in the grand scheme of things. Every season is amazing in the hills, so why not take the opportunity to become seeped in the brew of life as you "take it all in"- at every stage savor life!

Monday, September 3, 2007

Turn the page to Autumn

Look over at the calender- Heavens! Labor Day already? We move through life consumed by our jobs, handling day to day tasks around the homefront, while our hedonistic distractions keep us filled with that child-like essence of wonder...then the seasons change and we pause to ponder that our lives are like a gust of wind in the hurricane of life. Each of us does our part to fill the pieces of the puzzle of life without pausing to take in the grand scheme of the overall image of civilization. Oddly enough, the changing of the seasons seems to spark a primal drive in us to reflect on what has just passed in the waning days of the old season as we move to adapt to the onslaught of new demands the next season brings to us. It seems that as small towns host their fall festivals it is but an echo of the olden harvest times when people gathered to celebrate-and perhaps more importantly- gather one last time before the onslaught of winter woes. It is almost a subconscience urge within us to mingle while we can and bond in a spirit of celebration and survival in a concerted effort to brace for the forboding winds of change on the horizon. Change keeps us alive, as we embrace a revived approach to making sure our piece of the puzzle of life will fit properly with those sharing the pathway of life. As we turn the page to autumn let's hold hands, snuggle in our sweaters, take a sip of warm cider, and enjoy the fellowship of friends as we move through the days ahead!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Colors are starting to creep in....

I was amazed (or was it dismayed) over the past few days to see fall colors appearing along the roadway to my palatial estate! I noticed after the winds picked up stirring the warm days of August last week that it seemed that all of a sudden yellow tinged leaves were swirling in front of my way home...and as I was relaxing around by riding the Cub around the grounds I began to see the same old tell-tale trees beginning to rain their leaves down with those fall colors. Now, mind you, it is only a trace of falling leaves, but nevertheless fall is getting nearer with every tick of the clock. Creeping colors from autumn leaves are a wonder, but it still gives ya the creeps to know summer is waning.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Dreamy Dusk

Dreamy Dusk...Isn't it amazing how the time of day and the weather can cast such a different light on familiar surroundings? The harsh sun of midday gives way to a dreamy softness at dusk that harkens back to the spirt of impressionistic painting like those of Monet, Renoir & others. Summer rains add a earthy smell that we secretly crave under blistering rays as we toil to groom the landscape. Memories of short days with blinding winter sunsets reflecting off of frosty hillsides of snow stir appreciative feelingsfor the present that leads to a savoring of the days of summer. Although each season has its charms, it is only fitting that those at the opposite ends of the calender evokes such different moods. The softness of the summer light is comforting to the soul!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Summer Wind

"The summer wind came blowing in"...and it seems it is as a thief in the night, as the days of summer have a way of fading towards autumn at a rapid pace.   It is most clever for us to savor the moment of these warm days of summer, as soon autumn leaves will change the spirit of us all.  Not that the seasonal change is evil, but rather we must grasp life daily and enjoy the spirit of what is at hand.  Each season has wonderful addictions, and the uncertain nature of it all is what keeps us all in a state of wonder.  Life is what you make of it, and it can be so fine!  Enjoy!