October

The word "October" beings immediate visions to mind. I think about pumpkins and falling leaves, color in every direction, wool sweaters and chilly winds. There are sounds as well - like the cadence of the marching band at the beginning of a high school football game, or the crackling of dried leaves underfoot. And some of my favorite smells come in October too! I can't wait to catch a whiff of smoke from the first fireplace lighting of the season, or an apple pie in the oven.

It's a season of sensual pleasures now and its easy to miss them if we're not careful! Sometimes we move so quickly from one appointment to another, or rush from job to grocery store to home, picking up children and dry cleaning along the way, that we forget to stop long enough to appreciate what a beautiful month October really is. I love everything about it and I'm anticipating every day of it. Life is such a gift and part of the gift is the trappings - the wrapping paper, the ribbons, the card - so easily overlooked in the rush to get to the box. Being a cancer survivor makes me more aware of the wrappings and more likely to relish each part of the process. I've learned not to be in such a hurry to throw off the beautiful outer layers. And right now those layers are especially attractive. I'm going to peel them away them away with relish...