November, again

I have remembered My Ancestors with flowers and music this All Hallowtide, lighting candles and feasting on harvest soup. I am very grateful to have been born into this line of DNA, especially for the love and care I was given by my parents and grandparents when I was very young.

23 years ago today, my Mom died. She was only 71, was in decent health, still planning her life and I’m sure she was as shocked as we were when she passed over into whatever dimension we transition to from here. That was probably the darkest November of my life, but the short days and long nights wear on my general cheerfulness.

What we need right here, right now, is a Dopamine Menu:

EVPL Book Sale 11/8-9

Get a flu, covid, RSV shot

Wilson Auction 11/7-8

Xanadu 11/23

11/26 Annual Thanksgiving Sleep-over,

11/27 waking up to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, followed by feasting with the Jrs Give Thanks!!!

11/30 Casey’s birthday #71 – what a youngster!

There’s a lot of blank space in there which could open the door for some of that bleak November vibe to settle into the old bones, so I’m Taking a hint from the now-defunct NaNoWriMo challenge to write a Novel (50,000 words) in November….except I have never wanted to write a novel – not since grade school, anyway. I prefer to write features and columns, if you know what I mean from Journalism 101, so I’ve crafted a bespoke challenge to entertain me during this shady season.

I don’t mean that I’m going to publish something daily. I have an outline of topics for long-read type essays, and a list of characters for family tales that could extend to short stories. I’m stoked this time, though, so I ought to get in at least two weeks before I start flagging. Lord knows I have little else to do, but somehow my attention strays easily.

Which reminds me…I did this thing out in the Peace/Bird Garden.

I’ve been looking at the peace sign upside-down for years now, meaning to change it around someday.

Upside-down or Inside-Out

Peace