Yesterday was observed all over USA as Memorial Day - a day set aside to honor and pay homage to soldiers who died fighting wars for their country.
In previous years, the only reason this day was significant for me used to be that this was the first Holiday and possibly a long weekend in close to five months since the start of the year, and that for most recreational places, this day marked the opening for summer season. This year would have been no different but for a dame who goes by the first name of Barbara.
While looking for a book in our local library, I came across a copy of The Guns of August written by Barbara W. Tuchman. An absorbing and detailed account of the events leading up to the start of the First World War and the first month of it. As I read that book, I became painfully aware of two facts - one that my knowledge of European History is, to put it mildly, only minimal; and two that how a small spark can quickly escalate into a conflagration of full scale war.
One can argue about the pros and cons of going to war or blame one belligerent or another, but the saddest, most poignant fact of any war remains that young soldiers die. In the World wars - they died by the millions - wiping out a significant chunk of an entire generation. Many of them may not have really understood the reasons they were firing or being fired upon - yet were duty-bound to lay down their lives when commanded to do so.
Young people, usually being the most curious and open-minded, many of the combatants would likely have socialized with or even formed friendships with their counterparts from the enemy side, had it been an exchange student program or a tourist visit, instead of a campaign of war.
Reading the account of the battles and the high casualties of that war and subsequent ones, one cannot fail to recognize the lethal potential of human ingenuity and innovation - when applied to destruction. But even more lethal is the ego and political ambition of a few people - whose decisions and actions affects vast swathes of population - thereby changing the course of world history.
This memorial Day, I offer my personal salute to every soldier of any nationality, who made the supreme sacrifice fighting honorably in a war.
I hope that at some point in the unfolding history of humanity, we find a way to settle differences without wars. Actually this may be a near impossible wish, given the way nation states have formed and with the multitude of ways people find to include some and exclude others from their world view.
So, while we are wishing the impossible, let us try a grander vision -
We hope that someday humankind as a whole is composed of truly independently thinking, responsible individuals who do not need the crutches of assumed identities and who can look beyond the histories of collectives past to a future where there is only one group encompassing all living beings.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lessons for budding CEOs from Barack Obama
A year ago, nobody would have even imagined that a colored guy with a name like Barack Obama, middle name Hussein, would defy all laws of Political physics and perform a feat equivalent to climbing the Mount Everest in the Democratic Party.
Though, he had his advantages - a fawning media and a party establishment that quickly resorted to the PC course to avoid being branded racist, there is no denying the fact that Obama possessed certain qualities that were fundamental to his "brand".
Of course there are those that swear by his nearly divine political abilities of unifying, healing and performing other miracles that would involve bending the wills of opponents numbering almost half the population of US.
For the rest of us mere mortals, there are some lessons to be learned from the Obama phenomenon. Especially those who seek power in any organization can learn a few tricks. Here are some of my observations.
1. Never wait your turn to lead.
No matter how rigid the existing hierarchies, there is a fair chance they will yield if you boldly sieze the initiative.
2. Build a strong coterie of supporters.
Your case for leadershis is only as strong as the Organization you have built that turns on your commands. Foster loyalties among capable people for this.
Corollary: Don't just keep people around for loyalty or old times' sake.
3. Always appear above the fray.
Never get embroiled in gritty, down and dirty political fights. Always let your underlings handle such hatchet jobs.
4. Always appear nice.
Even when you sting an opponent like a crazed bee, appear cool and charming like a floating butterfly (a la Mohammad Ali).
5. Never be too specific on details.
The less details you provide of your plans and positions, the less you expose your flank to criticism and attack on vulnerabilities. Vague ideas expressed in few feel-good words and phrases will always work. ("Hope", "Change"...)
6. Be ready to smartly adopt and co-opt others' ideas.
This will be of immense help when people start looking closer.
7. Never jump in and volunteer answers to problems and questions.
Watch and wait for eager know-it-alls to jump in and spend their charges. Let them fizzle before you take over. Waiting too long risks belying indecision or inertia.
8. Get noticed.
Quiet and capable people who are too nice to talk about it usually make excellent also-rans. Talk about your achievements and attempts loud enough for people to take notice of you.
If you have noticed other things as well, please contribute.
(I would have posted a picture of Obama, but two dark and handsome dudes on the same page would be too much ;-)
Though, he had his advantages - a fawning media and a party establishment that quickly resorted to the PC course to avoid being branded racist, there is no denying the fact that Obama possessed certain qualities that were fundamental to his "brand".
Of course there are those that swear by his nearly divine political abilities of unifying, healing and performing other miracles that would involve bending the wills of opponents numbering almost half the population of US.
For the rest of us mere mortals, there are some lessons to be learned from the Obama phenomenon. Especially those who seek power in any organization can learn a few tricks. Here are some of my observations.
1. Never wait your turn to lead.
No matter how rigid the existing hierarchies, there is a fair chance they will yield if you boldly sieze the initiative.
2. Build a strong coterie of supporters.
Your case for leadershis is only as strong as the Organization you have built that turns on your commands. Foster loyalties among capable people for this.
Corollary: Don't just keep people around for loyalty or old times' sake.
3. Always appear above the fray.
Never get embroiled in gritty, down and dirty political fights. Always let your underlings handle such hatchet jobs.
4. Always appear nice.
Even when you sting an opponent like a crazed bee, appear cool and charming like a floating butterfly (a la Mohammad Ali).
5. Never be too specific on details.
The less details you provide of your plans and positions, the less you expose your flank to criticism and attack on vulnerabilities. Vague ideas expressed in few feel-good words and phrases will always work. ("Hope", "Change"...)
6. Be ready to smartly adopt and co-opt others' ideas.
This will be of immense help when people start looking closer.
7. Never jump in and volunteer answers to problems and questions.
Watch and wait for eager know-it-alls to jump in and spend their charges. Let them fizzle before you take over. Waiting too long risks belying indecision or inertia.
8. Get noticed.
Quiet and capable people who are too nice to talk about it usually make excellent also-rans. Talk about your achievements and attempts loud enough for people to take notice of you.
If you have noticed other things as well, please contribute.
(I would have posted a picture of Obama, but two dark and handsome dudes on the same page would be too much ;-)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Happy Birthday - Dear "Acquaintance" :-)
It's the birthday of someone I know - a casual aqauaintance. Well! I suppose it is more than casual, because I have known him for as long as I can remember. Still, either of us would be hard pressed to refer to the other as a friend.
Our respective lives have run a fairly parallel course. We grew up in the same neighborhood, took the well-beaten path out of childhood to adolescence and before we knew it, we were staring at the adult versions of ourselves. We did our mandatory drafts in school and College with only intermittent interest in the goings on, took up jobs thereafter and continued on in life.
I saw him get in and fall out of friendships and relationships good and bad and then saw him fall head over heels in love. This would have fueled my interest some more, except that cupid's arrow got me too before long and who cares about others when in love? :-)
We see each other practically everyday, but meet infrequently. And then too, the conversation - if any - stays on casual stuff. Nothing too personal or meaningful.
So, why am I here talking about this fellow today?
Well! for one, it's his Birthday and for another, I have heard him refer to it as a sort of midpoint of life, by what calculation he reached the conclusion not having been specified. We are sticking to our policy of not meddling with the reasoning of others.
Anyway, here's wishing you a Happy Birthday dear acquaintance!
Hopefully, at the midpoint of your life, you look back and feel satisfied and happy on more counts than not. We hope also that looking ahead, you have high hopes and big plans towards the objective of achieving happiness. Last but not the least, we hope that in your ruminations over the past and plans for future, you don't forget about living in the present - which is nothing but the future unfolding itself in it's unending, continuing story.
Having known of and observed each other as long as we have, should we now, know more about each other? In other words- is it time, at mutual halfway points, to become friends?
Our respective lives have run a fairly parallel course. We grew up in the same neighborhood, took the well-beaten path out of childhood to adolescence and before we knew it, we were staring at the adult versions of ourselves. We did our mandatory drafts in school and College with only intermittent interest in the goings on, took up jobs thereafter and continued on in life.
I saw him get in and fall out of friendships and relationships good and bad and then saw him fall head over heels in love. This would have fueled my interest some more, except that cupid's arrow got me too before long and who cares about others when in love? :-)
We see each other practically everyday, but meet infrequently. And then too, the conversation - if any - stays on casual stuff. Nothing too personal or meaningful.
So, why am I here talking about this fellow today?
Well! for one, it's his Birthday and for another, I have heard him refer to it as a sort of midpoint of life, by what calculation he reached the conclusion not having been specified. We are sticking to our policy of not meddling with the reasoning of others.
Anyway, here's wishing you a Happy Birthday dear acquaintance!
Hopefully, at the midpoint of your life, you look back and feel satisfied and happy on more counts than not. We hope also that looking ahead, you have high hopes and big plans towards the objective of achieving happiness. Last but not the least, we hope that in your ruminations over the past and plans for future, you don't forget about living in the present - which is nothing but the future unfolding itself in it's unending, continuing story.
Having known of and observed each other as long as we have, should we now, know more about each other? In other words- is it time, at mutual halfway points, to become friends?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Thank Heavens for little girls...
How do you define the wonderful mystery that is a little girl?
Start with the ephemeral dew drops on rose petals, imagine the wonder of vast open skies with myriad shapes of clouds floating about, sprinkle the twinkle of your favorite star and catch the spirit of a butterfly flitting about the woods and you begin to get a glimpse into the little darlings that God bestowed upon us.
Look into the liquid eyes of one and without saying a word she will make you want to laugh and cry at the same time as the looks etch her endless stories on your heart. You come away believing in oases of innocence in a cynical world. Oases, inhabited by tender infectious smiles with guileless confidence of carrying the day - any day.
Listen to the sweet chatter of one and you can get lost in the music of wonderment and idyllic imagination. Stories are woven on the go, with fact and fiction melded effortlessly into a delectable aural dessert that swells nothing but the heart.
Little helpers of the angel of happiness, they soothe our minds and beckon our souls into a better and sweeter reality of life with nothing but caressing little fingers, sweet kisses, smiles and sometimes even pouts of indignant reproach.
From all appearances little girls do seem to grow up, but care to look just a little deeper in your hearts and little girls stay little everyday.... :-)
Start with the ephemeral dew drops on rose petals, imagine the wonder of vast open skies with myriad shapes of clouds floating about, sprinkle the twinkle of your favorite star and catch the spirit of a butterfly flitting about the woods and you begin to get a glimpse into the little darlings that God bestowed upon us.
Look into the liquid eyes of one and without saying a word she will make you want to laugh and cry at the same time as the looks etch her endless stories on your heart. You come away believing in oases of innocence in a cynical world. Oases, inhabited by tender infectious smiles with guileless confidence of carrying the day - any day.
Listen to the sweet chatter of one and you can get lost in the music of wonderment and idyllic imagination. Stories are woven on the go, with fact and fiction melded effortlessly into a delectable aural dessert that swells nothing but the heart.
Little helpers of the angel of happiness, they soothe our minds and beckon our souls into a better and sweeter reality of life with nothing but caressing little fingers, sweet kisses, smiles and sometimes even pouts of indignant reproach.
From all appearances little girls do seem to grow up, but care to look just a little deeper in your hearts and little girls stay little everyday.... :-)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Its Leap Friday!!!!
Since the time I woke up today and realized that it's the Leap Day (Feb 29th) of a Leap Year (2008) AND it's also a Friday, I figured there had to be something special and therefore rare about this day.
All of us fortunate enough to be gainfully employed, fancy ourselves as yet another Dilbert - martyred at the caprices and follies of supposedly evil Bosses, and are constantly praying for Friday to arrive just a little bit sooner than it did last week. Friday is our salvation and the raison d'etre in a gruelling work week.
So, a rare day, falling once every 4 years, falling on a day of the week that feels rarer than its nemesis - Monday (check your past bad memories - most would be on Mondays) has to be a rather rare and therefore precious combination. Still haven't gnawed your digits off? ;-)
Not being very fast with numbers, I set out with a calendar program looking at the day of the week that Feb 29th had occurred in the past:
2008 - Friday
2004 - Sunday
2000 - Tuesday
1996 - Thursday
1992 - Saturday
1988 - Monday
1984 - Wednesday
1980 - Friday
By this empirical analysis I figured out that this combination repeats itself every 28 years. A discovery, that when disclosed to my better half rather breathlessly, met with a cool "Yeah! Leap days occur every 4 years and Fridays once every 7 days. And 7x4 = 28". Probably a good reason wives are referred to as better halves.
So anyway, the length of the reasoning notwithstanding, it is still a special day, a combination that will occur next in 2036. So, enjoy yourselves :-)
All of us fortunate enough to be gainfully employed, fancy ourselves as yet another Dilbert - martyred at the caprices and follies of supposedly evil Bosses, and are constantly praying for Friday to arrive just a little bit sooner than it did last week. Friday is our salvation and the raison d'etre in a gruelling work week.
So, a rare day, falling once every 4 years, falling on a day of the week that feels rarer than its nemesis - Monday (check your past bad memories - most would be on Mondays) has to be a rather rare and therefore precious combination. Still haven't gnawed your digits off? ;-)
Not being very fast with numbers, I set out with a calendar program looking at the day of the week that Feb 29th had occurred in the past:
2008 - Friday
2004 - Sunday
2000 - Tuesday
1996 - Thursday
1992 - Saturday
1988 - Monday
1984 - Wednesday
1980 - Friday
By this empirical analysis I figured out that this combination repeats itself every 28 years. A discovery, that when disclosed to my better half rather breathlessly, met with a cool "Yeah! Leap days occur every 4 years and Fridays once every 7 days. And 7x4 = 28". Probably a good reason wives are referred to as better halves.
So anyway, the length of the reasoning notwithstanding, it is still a special day, a combination that will occur next in 2036. So, enjoy yourselves :-)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Well into 2008....
The new year is well underway. It has been a while since my carpals showed an urge to suffer any typing not directly related to our mutual survival. The past several weeks have either been cold or colder. Below a point, the temperature becomes just an irrelevant statistic, having no bearing on how cold you feel. Of course! one can only wax philosophic about the temperatures and such, when one needs bear it only for a few minutes at most in any day.
A Minnesota winter does have its own stark beauty. With snowflakes of a million shapes and sizes sashaying down from their heavenly abodes. The landscape devoid of all but the dullest colors, is washed over in white snow - as if to prepare a canvas for the riot of colors and life that is spring. One can really appreciate the liveliness of spring after a dull, gloomy winter.
But when it gets to the mid of February, one kind of starts getting impatient for spring and the ongoing sojourn of the platinum blonde - Jane Frost, begins to seem like a mini ice-age.
One begins to get skeptical about the existence of global warming and then hopes fervently for it to make its presence felt.
I still aver my original love for Autumn, but right now a juicy ripe strawberry melting in the mouth, with all its promise of warm - even hot, long summer days is all that I can think of.
After all, why endure an unpleasant reality when you can conjure up utopia ... and then improve upon it :-)
A Minnesota winter does have its own stark beauty. With snowflakes of a million shapes and sizes sashaying down from their heavenly abodes. The landscape devoid of all but the dullest colors, is washed over in white snow - as if to prepare a canvas for the riot of colors and life that is spring. One can really appreciate the liveliness of spring after a dull, gloomy winter.
But when it gets to the mid of February, one kind of starts getting impatient for spring and the ongoing sojourn of the platinum blonde - Jane Frost, begins to seem like a mini ice-age.
One begins to get skeptical about the existence of global warming and then hopes fervently for it to make its presence felt.
I still aver my original love for Autumn, but right now a juicy ripe strawberry melting in the mouth, with all its promise of warm - even hot, long summer days is all that I can think of.
After all, why endure an unpleasant reality when you can conjure up utopia ... and then improve upon it :-)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Little things at workplace that make you smile
1. A late afternoon meeting gets cancelled at the last minute.
Frown: The meeting was to discuss your raise or promotion.
2. Boss's car dies on his driveway on Monday morning.
Frown: Boss calls you for a ride.
3. Office loud-mouth/motor-mouth gets a sore throat.
Frown: The raspy voice sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard.
4. Sore throat continues for several days
Frown: Actually YOU are the office loud-mouth.
5. Free treats courtesy of coworkers.
Frown: When you are on a diet.
6. A stroke of luck in the form of free coffee from the vending machine.
Frown: To the person right after you.
7. Unscheduled fire drills during spring or summer.
Frown: The loud fire alarm woke you up from your power nap.
Please help me add more.
Frown: The meeting was to discuss your raise or promotion.
2. Boss's car dies on his driveway on Monday morning.
Frown: Boss calls you for a ride.
3. Office loud-mouth/motor-mouth gets a sore throat.
Frown: The raspy voice sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard.
4. Sore throat continues for several days
Frown: Actually YOU are the office loud-mouth.
5. Free treats courtesy of coworkers.
Frown: When you are on a diet.
6. A stroke of luck in the form of free coffee from the vending machine.
Frown: To the person right after you.
7. Unscheduled fire drills during spring or summer.
Frown: The loud fire alarm woke you up from your power nap.
Please help me add more.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Art of (Not so) Small-Talk
You are on your way to start your work day, with a million and three things on your mind. Entering the elevator, absently you press the button for your floor and this vaguely familiar dude accosts you with a broad grin:
"Good Morning!"
and you reciprocate the nice gesture:
"Morning!"
alarm bells have only just begun to go off in your head, when he springs the next shot with practiced ease:
"How are you doing?" or "How's it goin'?"
I dont know about you, but this question has stumped me countless times, leaving my tongue twisted around all possible responses. And I end up doing the verbal equivalent of trip and fall flat on the face.
What are you supposed to say?
"I am good" or "I am fine"?
Should you, or shouldn't you follow it up with the same query for his sake or maybe even add a question or comment about something else? What can that something else be?
By now you are wondering whether you have the time to cram it all into a response and do so before one of you exits the elevator. More often than not, by this time your pulse has jumped 20 points and you are a mumbling mess. You can feel your brain churning at the imperceptibly slow pace of solidifying lava. You actually want to believe that it is working.
If however you are a pro of small-talk you respond to that question, ask the same of him and also throw in a comment about the weather or the Football game last night. And you do all that with the glib ease of a snail slithering smoothly over a rough surface, albeit faster.
The rest of us are however cowering before the lurking masters of small-talk. Its like entering the Dojo as a novice and having to fend off the onslaught of a Black-belt on the very first day. But there is no respite. The grand masters of short order verbal wizardry are everywhere. In elevators, water-coolers, hallways, bus-stops, at the bank or waiting in the check-out line - you name it.
I have tried all kinds of behaviors in response. The muttered-under-the breath reply worked for a couple times, before the more energetic small-talkers cued in and turned the knife once more: "What was that?" (with a winning smile).
A practiced "I'm good how are you?" was frequently so long that it was still going on when the other fellow had already disappeared around a corner.
I tried being rude and sought to suppress all banter by giving no replies or only grunted ones, but pro-small-talkers are an irrepressible lot.
Finally I decided to just give in! There would be days when I can come up with a decent reply and then there would be those other days, when my tongue would trip me over every syllable to the amusement of my assailant who just ambushed me. It is easier to trip and fall than to worry about it endlessly :-)
"Good Morning!"
and you reciprocate the nice gesture:
"Morning!"
alarm bells have only just begun to go off in your head, when he springs the next shot with practiced ease:
"How are you doing?" or "How's it goin'?"
I dont know about you, but this question has stumped me countless times, leaving my tongue twisted around all possible responses. And I end up doing the verbal equivalent of trip and fall flat on the face.
What are you supposed to say?
"I am good" or "I am fine"?
Should you, or shouldn't you follow it up with the same query for his sake or maybe even add a question or comment about something else? What can that something else be?
By now you are wondering whether you have the time to cram it all into a response and do so before one of you exits the elevator. More often than not, by this time your pulse has jumped 20 points and you are a mumbling mess. You can feel your brain churning at the imperceptibly slow pace of solidifying lava. You actually want to believe that it is working.
If however you are a pro of small-talk you respond to that question, ask the same of him and also throw in a comment about the weather or the Football game last night. And you do all that with the glib ease of a snail slithering smoothly over a rough surface, albeit faster.
The rest of us are however cowering before the lurking masters of small-talk. Its like entering the Dojo as a novice and having to fend off the onslaught of a Black-belt on the very first day. But there is no respite. The grand masters of short order verbal wizardry are everywhere. In elevators, water-coolers, hallways, bus-stops, at the bank or waiting in the check-out line - you name it.
I have tried all kinds of behaviors in response. The muttered-under-the breath reply worked for a couple times, before the more energetic small-talkers cued in and turned the knife once more: "What was that?" (with a winning smile).
A practiced "I'm good how are you?" was frequently so long that it was still going on when the other fellow had already disappeared around a corner.
I tried being rude and sought to suppress all banter by giving no replies or only grunted ones, but pro-small-talkers are an irrepressible lot.
Finally I decided to just give in! There would be days when I can come up with a decent reply and then there would be those other days, when my tongue would trip me over every syllable to the amusement of my assailant who just ambushed me. It is easier to trip and fall than to worry about it endlessly :-)
Friday, September 7, 2007
And here she is!!
The moods of weather are mercurial, to say the least. Yesterday it felt like a sauna, but the rains overnight changed all that.
We just met Autumn of 2007. Not much has changed really in the scenery to suggest that, but the cool damp feel of Autumn is very much here, and this time, she seems to want to stay.
If the seasons were all feminine, then Summer would be a mother - verdant and fertile though short-tempered at times, Spring an ebullient young child and winter an old grandma with flowing white hair sometimes grumpy but glorious nonetheless.
Fall would definitely be a raven haired dark eyed lady, forever young and beautiful at heart, artistic and creative in all her expressions. You can easily picture her smiling eyes looking into the depths of your soul and seeing you in a way that you feel good about just being yourself and smile with her. Wearing myriad beads, trinkets and a long flowing skirt with shades of bright crimson, peach, orange and gold she sashays around stoically with a calm dignity. Now and then you catch the golden sun gleaming in her hair or shining through her beads. The moods of the moment are a quiet reserve and noble poise.
While all my entreaties to mom summer to leave and make way for lady Autumn were met with scorching episodes, I know that if I try to make her overstay, grandma winter might have a rather frigid reaction. Besides she starts getting bored and listless after a while and begins to long for faraway lands. Fickleness of temperament is part of her being.
So, enjoy her company while she stays.
We just met Autumn of 2007. Not much has changed really in the scenery to suggest that, but the cool damp feel of Autumn is very much here, and this time, she seems to want to stay.If the seasons were all feminine, then Summer would be a mother - verdant and fertile though short-tempered at times, Spring an ebullient young child and winter an old grandma with flowing white hair sometimes grumpy but glorious nonetheless.
Fall would definitely be a raven haired dark eyed lady, forever young and beautiful at heart, artistic and creative in all her expressions. You can easily picture her smiling eyes looking into the depths of your soul and seeing you in a way that you feel good about just being yourself and smile with her. Wearing myriad beads, trinkets and a long flowing skirt with shades of bright crimson, peach, orange and gold she sashays around stoically with a calm dignity. Now and then you catch the golden sun gleaming in her hair or shining through her beads. The moods of the moment are a quiet reserve and noble poise.While all my entreaties to mom summer to leave and make way for lady Autumn were met with scorching episodes, I know that if I try to make her overstay, grandma winter might have a rather frigid reaction. Besides she starts getting bored and listless after a while and begins to long for faraway lands. Fickleness of temperament is part of her being.
So, enjoy her company while she stays.Thursday, September 6, 2007
O Fall Where Art Thou
Is it autumn yet? Evidently not!
Where are the misty mornings and crisp cool afternoons, when bright sunlight feels nice and warm. There is no gloominess in its cool weather; even the breezy and sometimes wet evenings are very pleasing. Fall signifies the good- even beautiful side of cooler weather after the sticky heat and humidity of summer.
Autumn brings a lot! Crisp sweet apples, fresh hot apple cider infused with cinnamon. Nature putting up a transient show in vibrant colors. The flavor of change all around excites the heart and pleases the soul.
Light jackets suffice to ward off mildly chilly winds. The impending gloom of snow, slush and parkas seems so far away as to not even feel imminent.
Its September and still mercilessly hot and humid. Summer still goes on in all its splendor, way past its departure date. The heat is turning some leaves prematurely brown, bypassing all possibility of exuberence in their free lives. The sun shines on. Lovers of warm weather continue to enjoy these last few days of it for this year. But I am done with summer.
O' Fall where art thou!! I am ready for you!!
Where are the misty mornings and crisp cool afternoons, when bright sunlight feels nice and warm. There is no gloominess in its cool weather; even the breezy and sometimes wet evenings are very pleasing. Fall signifies the good- even beautiful side of cooler weather after the sticky heat and humidity of summer.
Autumn brings a lot! Crisp sweet apples, fresh hot apple cider infused with cinnamon. Nature putting up a transient show in vibrant colors. The flavor of change all around excites the heart and pleases the soul.
Light jackets suffice to ward off mildly chilly winds. The impending gloom of snow, slush and parkas seems so far away as to not even feel imminent.
Its September and still mercilessly hot and humid. Summer still goes on in all its splendor, way past its departure date. The heat is turning some leaves prematurely brown, bypassing all possibility of exuberence in their free lives. The sun shines on. Lovers of warm weather continue to enjoy these last few days of it for this year. But I am done with summer.
O' Fall where art thou!! I am ready for you!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
