Saturday, September 20, 2014

ARRRR! and GRR Martin's Name Day

It's finally cool. AC is off, windows are open. Allergies are annoying and I've caught the snotmonster bug that's going around, but we've made it through another Summer without fire or flood or dragons swooping down on us. Now comes the slippery, wet leaf-strewn path to the holidays. I've already started shopping, but that's because everyone lives elsewhere and things need to be here whenever the people are. Strider is so busy I haven't seen her since last November! Billy will probably be here for Thanksgiving but not Christma-Solsti-Channu-Kwanza-Yule. I think I'm done making dinners. If he comes up, we'll go out. Or we'll order the take away meal from Chelsea Royal. Ach, Fall brings all the "what to do" into the house on little cold papery gusts.

First, though, is Halloween. This is my season. Horror movies, cold dark nights, whistly winds. The trees seem to change color and drop their leaves faster every year. That lovely smell of death and decay just before we reach Stick Season. Which is a stark beauty of its own. And then the snow...

What a strange week this has been. Last Friday my old friend Bruce came by, up from Atlanta. I hadn't seen him in 31 years. He's old now (I haven't changed a bit, cough). We haven't been in close touch, he was more a friend of my Mom's, but it was like I'd seen him yesterday. He brought me a signed copy of his book, so I asked him to sign the one I had bought to Fr. Thomas and I'll get that in the mail. What a nice man. It's a bit odd to fast forward from the relationship we had decades ago. I was 17 when I met him, 24 when I saw him last. He was the 13 years-older-than-me, sophisticated, Wharton MBA, upper west side, gay Adonis who taught A Course in Miracles. Now I seem to have caught up to his age and we spoke as equals. Curious how different that is. We skimmed through all the years; our work, our loves, our moves, our losses. It crossed my mind it may be the last time I see Bruce this lifetime. That's fine, we're okay.

Of course I was rooting for Scotland's independence. But rooting for Scotland to do anything in their own best interest is pretty pointless. Like being a White Sox fan. It occurred to me it's like the first union drive at the co-op. It didn't make it, and there was much disappointment. But a few years later it reared its head again and this time people weren't afraid of it. And the second union drive worked. Maybe it'll be like that.

Beest abides. She has her issues, but she's turned into a mostly sweet and only sometimes psycho mushpot. I do wish she'd stop chewing off her belly fur. She looks like a cow.





Everyone else is doing well, just the same old sagas of life. Hilarity, boredom, stress and grief.
 
While writing this we've passed from Talk Like a Pirate Day to George RR Martin's birthday. Monday will arrive, bringing the Autumn Equinox. Scott Fitzgerald's birthday soon, too.


"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further... And one fine morning -
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."- FSF

8 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

It is always lovely to see you pop-up in my reader.
'The trees seem to change color and drop their leaves faster every year. That lovely smell of death and decay just before we reach Stick Season. Which is a stark beauty of its own.'
YES. I do love autumn and the bare elegance of winter. And just at the moment am enjoying the giggles and colour of flirtacious Spring.

Geo. said...

Dear Austan! I rejoice in your post and empathize with your cat. It's just good sense to chew off one's belly fur before someone else does. A beautiful season awaits us. Even my beloved California only burnt halfway down this summer. Don't like summer. Must go lie down.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

Ah, life goes on, the seasons change, and surprises come our way. How wonderful to have a guest who you have not seen in decades. It is always fun to reminisce and talk about days gone by. It is good for the soul.

It is always good to see your name in the blog posts, Laura, and also catch up with your goings-on.

Stay well, dear friend.

Anonymous said...

It is nice to get rid of the excessive heat (although we haven't had much of that here). Sorry to hear you are suffering from the bug. Christmas....oh #$$^....you would have to remind me about that.

Carol Kilgore said...

I usually enjoy what little touch of autumn we get here in South Texas, but this year I'm not ready for it at all.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Hi-ya, kiddo. Good to see your comment to Carol pop up on my blog. And so it goes... we've nearly made it through another summer. They fly by faster every year.

Very cool to meet up with someone you haven't seen for that many years, and be able to pick the conversation right up again, isn't it?

Take care.

MoonRaven said...

Good to see that you're alive and close to well and catching up with old friends. I hope that your allergies aren't too bad and that the bug goes away.

And I liked your analogy about rooting for Scotland being like rooting for the White Sox. I would love to see them independent, but I wasn't surprised at the result either. Maybe it is just the beginning.


Anonymous said...

Been quite a while since we've seen you here. I hope this means you are happily busy.