Another change of seasons

Leaves are scarce now; fall is giving way to winter. In fact, it's almost startling to see those widespread changes. The sweet gums seem to be the hold-outs, stubbornly refusing to let go. But wind and time will change that and the last of fall will vanish.

Saturday night the clouds parted and there was a slice of crescent moon...a much chillier night it was! But the effect of the moon light on the bare trees...well it made that landscape seem all the more stark. Winter seemed very real and very alive at that moment. And the next day was rainy again and all the piles of wet leaves sparkled with their last bits of color. Not yet winter, but giving notice that it would not be denied.

This morning the sun is out...but there are clouds flowing across the sky and the promise of snow is in the air. It must have flurried during the night, as two small patches of the yard had a fine layer of flakes. But they are small patches indeed and as we pass freezing, the patches shrink before our eyes. Here on the valley floor we may see flurries over the next day or so, but you'd have to be in the West Hills to have it accumulate. For now, that's ok...I just want to see it snow.

The dog seems oblivious to the cold; she wants that slider open enough to go in and out as she pleases. Well, even if there was no breeze the chilly air would filter in and work against trying to heat the house. For now, dog has won...but not for long. Highs in the 30s will prompt that door to be shut...all day. It will be a few months before that easy access to the yard returns.

Thanksgiving, and still raining

It's Thanksgiving for a few more hours...and the meal is over, the dishes done, the football watched. The food and company were both excellent. there was much to be thankful for...the roof over our heads, our children, the food and our ability to prepare it, the fact that we had food to prepare. We were also thankful for the crisp fall weather, the snow in the mountains, and even the rain...although it can stop for a while, really. Or, we'd love to share it with parts of the country where they continue to have drought conditions.

But it's November, and the rainy season is here. The rain, the holiday season, Christmas lights popping out as if Thanksgiving is the signal to appear. And, while I do love the holidays, I'd like it to be a tad less commercial, the stores are full of music, items already on sale, and people. I don't think I'll hit the malls any time soon. But, I'll still enjoy the season. I'll listen to some of the music, spend money on gifts, make holiday meals. But I'll stop more often just to talk to the people who matter in my life. I'll enjoy the change of seasons, throw another log on the fire, and just be glad that I'm alive...and that my family and friends do much to sustain me; I hope I do the same for them. Just the chance to notice the small moments of each day.

Politics and statesmanship

Happened again a week ago, there was a shift in political representation...in the federal government, and some state and local arenas as well. I have heard lots of things about this, who changed their votes since 2004, what the thoughts behind the changes were, and what, if anything, the changes meant.

Personally I think that we swing from extreme to extreme over time, and then find ourselves back near the center. The extremes are just that, and cannot sustain power over time. They are finally seen as too radical, too exclusive, too far from too many of us. Religion is a good example. The Puritan ethic has never truly left us, and the more conservative side of life believes that it's the right thing for all of us. I was never lead to believe that "freedom of religion" meant that I was free to practice what someone else chose. Freedom of religion, I thought, meant I could be Catholic, Muslim, an atheist, if it was my choice. And, the right to make that choice was mine alone, not something left to someone else.

Freedom of speech meant we could criticize, not agree with the government, and not be penalized for saying so. What happened to the art of debate, of discussion varying view points? How did we get so polarized? I hope this election, and the move to a more centered position, not the neocon, not the ultra-radical proves to be a change for the good of the majority. We are not red or blue, but Americans. And if that's true, we should applaud efforts to help all of us, not just a few. We claim to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people...not lobbyists, not just the wealthy, not just anyone...but everyone. Otherwise, we don't survive as a people.

Honor diversity, respect the opinions of others, care for the less fortunate, grow the goodwill that we have lost in the world. We cannot survive by excluding large chunks of the populace; we cannot survive if we do not work together to solve our problems.

These elections said we wanted change. Then, let there be change...positive change. No finger pointing, no divisiveness, no isolation. America, land of the free...home of the brave.

Everything changes, and stays the same

I was gone for a week, left the color of Oregon for the warm of Texas. Now, I'd prefer Oregon, but I have a daughter in Texas. I had seen her in May and again in August, but that was a unusal happenstance. Since leaving the Bible Belt, there were years that I didn't see her, or any other family in the area, including my mom. So I was given a gift, leaving partner and furry critters, for child and other furry critters. Instead of sleeping with cats each night, I slept with cat and dog. Dog is Bailey, part black lab and the rest bassett hound. Imagine a black lab with really short legs. That's B. And, all these animals are black...well B has white on her chest. Roo, the oldest cat has a few white hairs too, but Chloe is black...slinky and silky. And Texas was warm, at least compared to Oregon. Still it was a good time...a hockey game (go Stars!!), a trip home to Tulsa, and lots of time to bond and just hang out. And yet, when the week was up, I was ready for home. I missed my significant other, our animals, our bed, our weather. And when I returned, there was still all that fall color, the beautiful colors that make fall my favorite season. And rain! How I missed cloudy days and rain! Which I'm getting plenty of now. Our dog seems to have grown, the yard is covered with maple and sweet gum leaves. Nothing has changed, but everything has. We're just that much closer to winter. October is gone and thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Christmas, and winter...the cold and gray of winter that Oregon has, just like Oklahoma did as I was growing up. Now, if only it would snow!