This morning, while getting the boyos ready for school, I took a few moments to myself and sat on my back porch drinking my coffee and noticing (one again) how much steam was coming off of my beloved pool. This occurs when the ambient temperature outside is far cooler than the temperature of the pool's water and while it looks neat, what with the whole 'having a miniature Scottish moor in my backyard' it also served as a potent reminder that the summer is indeed over and the pool is far too cold to get into and have nearly-naked fun in.
Sad but true.
All is not downer-town however as the falling mercury and the shortening days acts as a herald for my favorite time of year, fall. The leaves are nice, the coming holidays are great and the smell of woodsmoke is damn-near an aphrodisiac for me but the thing I like the best is the cold. That's me, I like the cold. Not Oklahoma-cold, mind you, California-cold... just take my word for it, there is a world of difference between the two. I would sometimes muse (between wondering if my fingers would ever work properly again and trying to decide if my battle-buddy was succumbing to hypothermia) if the residents of Oklahoma had in some way angered God and that simply being in Oklahoma was some kind of punishment right outta the Old Testament.
Anyways, I like it when it's cold. I like snuggling under warm, heavy blankets. I like making those warm comfort foods that are so impractical during the summer months like homemade soups, stews and roasts.
This fall will also bring with it joyous events (as seasons often do) like my youngest son's birthday, Halloween and the birth of my dear friends' newest child. If we are all very lucky another dear friend will visit from across the country to decide for herself if the left coast is all its cracked up to be.
In any case it's easy for me to be optimistic in my point of view, at least as far as the few things I've mentioned go which is unusual in and of itself as 'optimism' and 'Chris' are not generally paired with each other , not in any positive way, generally. Truth be told, I've always been a bit pessimistic in my out view (at least, in the George Will sense) and, since the truth is being told, dour. That's okay, I have high hopes for the future and I've learned that faith and faithfulness can get you a long, long way in this world. Just don't forget to pack your band-aids... and wear a cup.
