T’isn’t The Season

First, my mother’s Maple tree is turning red. Second, the first back to school sales insert arrived in this morning’s Siuslaw News. My head is spinning. Normally this would harbor no ill thoughts for me, except it’s JULY 12th. My lilies haven’t even bloomed. I’ve not had a chance to spring and now Mother Nature and the advertising calendar are stealing summer from me?

Except for a trip to Portland for our oldest daughter’s wedding, our vacation is going to be a stay-cation. The upside is I will get some projects done; the down side is we save gas and airline dollars. Okay, so there is no down side. But school shopping already? Ouch.

I don’t have a school age kid, so I won’t find myself placing extra neon post-its in the shopping basket for my desk. No, cool gel pens; no glittery, ombre’d, character embellished pencils; no psychedelic book covers – bummer days.

Hours can be spent at the nursery pondering which annuals, bulbs, perennials, and bamboo for my yard. Hours can be spent toting pavers from pallets to pick up bed, truck to back yard. Whereas some women can spend hours drooling over shoes, purses, and lipsticks - I will spend life times dreaming at the nursery and on the post-it note aisle (you have noted that at Staples post-its have their own section, right?)

I will lament having to make a choice,”Hot pink or neon green? (When in truth I want them both,) Ah what the heck, they’re just post-it notes. Hearts (rapid head bobbing) or stars? (heavy hmmms,) Ah, what the heck, they’re just post-it notes.”

And the envelope aisle? Have you seen the plastic envelopes with the stringie tie things? I have been doing more and more sales in the last two years. The plastic sheet size envelopes are perfect for the Oregon weather. Bright blues, kiwis, and the little black envelop that is a must for every smart business woman (pearls are optional – ah what the heck, ditch the pearls, this is Oregon.) My clients must like them too, because I never get them back.

Kewl, I’ll buy more.

Now hearts or stars?

Here comes the rain again

We didn’t have much of a summer, by my esteem, and now we are suddenly sunk into autumn as if September 23rd was some kind of hidden trip wire the sun triggered crossing over the equinox. Leaves on the way to Eugene began browning and occasionally falling this year in July. What the heck does that mean? It’s the last day of September and my Chain trees and Horse Chestnut still sport green leaves. The Purple Plum next door has been bereft and nude for well over a month.

Where did it go? I’m not ready for the full onslaught of an Oregon autumn. Rain falling with colder bites each day, copious little rain drops that soak you as you dash from door to car. Despite the calendar, I just wasn’t prepared. My wood is not all stacked; heck my wood isn’t even all delivered yet. I never got to fully weed and clear out my back flower beds. My Butterfly bushes need trimmed. And now I need to put winterize my lawn. Where did it go? Shit!

Don’t get me wrong, I love the autumn and rain, I am just not prepared. I'm reminded of the fable of the ant and the grasshopper - apparently I'm not the ant. All those years in Girl Scouts (aka I’m not prepared) and I’ve squandered my summer. I’m not sure how, opting for a meltdown, I didn’t vacation this year, instead I spent my time on chores and work. I got my lumpy path into my side yard, bought my bench, mended my dragon’s arm, and planted thirty plus lilies, a gross of tulips, with narcissus and daffodils thrown in for good measure. But I’m not finished. I had so much more I wanted to do. I never took the time to play. I did spend time with Benjamin and my parents, but not so much that I should be behind.

While I have a goodly size stack of books waiting to be read, my comforter is all clean and ready to keep me warm, I am remorseful that I didn’t take the time to play and suddenly I am sad and longing for what wasn’t this past summer.

It could be worse, it’s snowing in Utah.

Here comes the rain again.
Is it raining with you?

Sith,
Cele