Autumn Nights

Chorus of crickets harmonizing as a soft breeze

combs the trees,

branches gently swaying...

Harvest moon winking at me through filmy clouds 

in the autumn sky,

a familiar face.

Memories flood back. I close my eyes recalling

games of hide 'n seek

with childhood friends...

Running, tripping in the dark through yards,

over rock and bushes

to touch Home Base.

Autumn's cool breath mixing with summer's

waning warmth beckons me

to stay and listen...

But turning a deaf ear to go inside and close

the door and miss

the chance to rest.

Tonight I pray Old Man Moon and cricket friends

resume their autumn play

for an audience of one...

Sitting in my Adirondack chair, head back,

absorbing the sight and sounds

of nature's best.

Weather or Not

I pride myself, or perhaps delude myself into thinking that weather doesn't affect my mood. Well, that theory was proved incorrect last weekend as we left our hometown of Portland, Oregon to head east and home. I couldn't figure out why I was so depressed. We had a great visit with family and friends over a three day period and even saw our three month old grand nephew. What's depressing about that? Leaving? No, we can go back anytime.

Well, I was enlightened, literally, when we stopped in The Dalles for lunch and the sun appeared. Then I realized it was the heavy rains of Portland that had dampened my spirits. Funny. I'm a Portland native and know that it rains nine months out of the year in the City of Roses. Was I in a perpetual bad mood for the forty years I lived there? No, but being introduced to a drier climate has changed my perspective and my preferences. I love the sun!

So here I am back in God's country where the sun shines 300 days of the year and I can enjoy the big sky that produces breathtaking sunsets. There's no place like home.