"The sun is worm, the grass is green."<p>25 years ago I remember looking out my dorm window at the bare trees outside on the Michigan State campus. MSU is a truly wonderful place in the fall, literally a multicolored park. The reason why I remember that day is that I had missed Fall. For the second year in a row. I didn't even notice that the leaves had gone through their spectacular display. Now they were lying on the ground. Several months had just vanished from my incredibly self-absorbed life. <p>A local columnist penned an extraordinary article for Tuesday's paper that made me remember that day, and others like it. Sometimes the best things are fleeting and ephemeral. I highly recommend that you check out the article: Savor the uniqueness of each day<p>We need to look up once in a while from our feet. Point our minds outwards. And look.<p>I did that this morning. Took a longer route into work. A road where the tall pines crowded up against the road. I rolled my window down to get a waft of the clean scent. <p>I paid attention when the city skyline started to reveal itself over the trees in the slightly hazy distance. Funny, I rarely noticed how majestic it was.<p>I parked and took a detour through the "old" part of campus.<p>I meandered along a holly hedge, pricking my palm on the sharply pointed leaves, the bright red berries peeked out here and there.<p>As I walked I could hear the leaves rustling under my feet. I stopped to marvel at the single golden maple cowering under the stately live oaks.<p>The flower beds had recently been planted with winter foliage. The ornamental cabbage looking tiny and tender.<p>The roses in the memorial garden were leggy and sparse, but still had plenty of flowers to show. I bent over and inhaled the aroma from a plump white blossom.<p>I'm not going to say that during the entire walk my mind was clear and focused only on the moment. I did occasionally think about how I was going to describe it. The rest of the time I truly did let go and enjoy what was there right in front of me.<p>It seemed to work, at least for a few minutes.<p>"The sun is warm, the grass is green."<p>Yeah, I know, a bit hokey... but follow the link.<p>Jeffers

Thank you so much, Jeffers. I loved reading this, felt like I was there with you. <p>Now I'm going to take a break and walk the Intel Campus ... it's beautiful here in the Great Pac NW in the Fall. <p>Only thing is, security reported this morning a Cougar has been sited ..... oh well, no biggie ... here kitty kitty kitty! lol<p>Lv,
Jo

Yes jeffers, <p>This is how I am trying to live my life also... appreciating the lovely things in life... <p>...we have only so long on this earth, and I am so tired of wallowing in pain and self-pity, so I've decided to lift my head and see what gifts God has for me today!!<p>Thank you...

I just finished reading the linked article. <p>This is so true:<p>Quote By CLAUDIA SMITH BRINSON Columnist<p>"It really shouldn't be hard to hold onto this knowledge, even in a culture such as ours that encourages us to rush, rather than savor; to get, rather than give; to be in the next minute, foot tapping in impatience, rather than this minute and its smells, tastes, touches, sounds, sights."<p>Thanks again, Jeffers!<p>Jo

drat Jeffers...you made me nostalgic for Michigan and the fall color tour...guess I'll have to take a trip up to Lake Arrowhead...<p>C A L I

Hi Jeffers,<p>Wow you are so descriptive I felt like I was there. Then again this would be my 2nd cyber trip since H2Y sent me on that last luau he threw for me a few months ago. <p>What you wrote was soothing to my soul. In California, the leaves are falling but by all other standards it is fairly warm now. Just beginning to feel like fall. <p>Your fresh perspective helps balance out our hetic and for some of us plain ol crazy world. Please share your other thoughtful moments with us. Know that it is helping some of us who don't reflect on the right things in life often enough. <p>Mahalo,
L.

When I picked up the paper and saw that column yesterday it sparked an incredible nostalgic journey. I was going to post yesterday about it but I was overwhelmed, too many thoughts going on, too many interconnections. <p>We all have this place where we keep the memories of things that we've done, choices that we've made, and we take them out and turn them around now and then. Look at them from our new perspectives -- sort of judge ourselves on how we've lived our lives so far. We wonder what life would be like if we had taken that fork in the road, instead of this one... ended up with that person, instead of this one....<p>In the past year or so, this have become a definitive struggle for me. I feel that I have to figure *everything* out before I can proceed further. The classic MLC.<p>I'm finding that I'm comfortable with my choices. I might have had a different life on the other paths, but the key word is different, not better. <p>I find that this forum (you know who you are!) often sends me down long paths of introspection (what a word). Usually thinking of mistakes I've made, bad thoughts I've had, etc. I've often wondered if this has kept me wallowing too long. I don't think so. Exposed to the light of day, the bad stuff is losing it's power over me. I'm understanding why radical honesty is so powerful. If you don't keep it in, it stops hurting you!<p>This column pushed me in the other direction. How not to dwell on things. Or maybe a better way to put it is, how to give the good things in life their due. I walk by that prickly Holly hedge every single day. <p>Jo, I could've won big money betting that you'd be the first to this post. Darn, I'll make sure I call my bookie next time. <p>If you want to be focused on the moment, a big cat'll do it everytime time. Ya think?<p>You seem to be really stressed out lately. A good candidate for a few minutes of "smell the coffee" time. Enjoy. That reminds me, I just got some fresh espresso beans, time for some homemade Capucino... ahhhh.<p>Nyneve,
My childhood was just like Calvin and Hobbes. I worried a bit after leaving the Midwest that my kids were going to be messed up by not experiencing the best childhood memories on the planet. You know... all four seasons. I think G. Trudeau was from Toronto so that's the kind of climate you see up there. But, you're really a transplant, aren't you, so you understand the dislocated feeling of not living where your memories are. I guess sometimes you have to put them away (memories) and just be happy where you are. I'm realizing it's not really that hard. <p>TA,
Yep, nostalgia is where I'm at. Glad to oblige (actually intended it, a little. teehee). We have so much evergreen stuff here that Fall isn't quite the same. Have to take my comfortable "car" to the mountains to see the "real thing" -- I've got that on my "someday" list.<p>Orchid,
Talk about soothing places... I was at Alum Rock Park about a month ago. All I can say is, AWESOME. I spent 8 hours hiking around. On my next trip back (December) I going to spend another day there. Of course, being California, it will look exactly the same as it did in October.<p>Ya know, I love the lighthearted posts. I think they keep us from going postal. WAT's Halloween post seemed to let off some pressure, but not enough. I feel quite a bit better now. Although, even writing something pleasant takes a lot out of me.<p>I hope everyone followed the link and read the column. Claudia Brinson puts my prose to shame.<p>Take care,<p>Jeffers

Hi Jeffers,<p>No kidding. You were right down the street from my house. You went the way by the creek right? You would have had to pass the street that runs into mine!!! We live just below the park. We can ride our bikes up there. <p>Next time you are in the neighborhood, throw a rock or stop by. I'll try to find a PBR bottle just for you. he he he. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>L.<p>[ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Orchid ]</p>

Jeffers,
I'm just trying to imagine exactly where those tall pines were that butt up next to the road - I'd really like to know exactly where they are - before you started looking at the skyline . . . <p>I never take life for granted - the only thing in my life - is just that everything goes so darn fast - I just want it to slow down.<p>If you are where I think you are - nestled beneath pines, and hardwood trees - especially alot of oaks . . . you are fast asleep. There are some trees turning in So Calif at the moment, and there are a few beautiful trees - but it is beautiful in its own right. (ps won't be here forever).<p>Yes, you always make me think - too bad our thread from way back got lost, huh?<p>Keep driving those country roads. I'm thinking about those pines - but it gets alot colder up in Virginia. Especially in the Hampton Roads area - nothing like Minn, or SD. Brrrrrrr - where's the fire? aftershock

Hi jeffers,
Thanks so much for sharing this... I don't think you are in a MLC? Ya really think so? I mean, quite often all of us get too caught up in the "busy-ness" of life to the point where we don't stop and absorb the beauty of creation around us. You know what I love most of all here on the west coast? The ocean breeze blowing on my face! To me, it is the most wonderful thing and I appreciate it so much! [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] <p> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by jeffers:
<strong>That reminds me, I just got some fresh espresso beans, time for some homemade Capucino... ahhhh.</strong><hr></blockquote><p>YUM! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif" border="0[/img] Pour me one too, please!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] <p>And you're right about fall in California... Not too many colors of fallen leaves but maybe brown, dark brown, and yellow. Okay, there are a few red ones but you have to really take your mind off your troubles to find those! Oh well, no matter, we're too busy enjoying the (still) warm sun and that ocean breeze...<p>*sigh* This was truly refreshing. Thanks!

Yes, I'm transplanted from the high deserts of California, where the needles fall off the Joshua Trees and the sun shines until... well... the WHOLE TIME! [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Oh, there are kinda changes in the seasons, moreso than Southern Calif., where I am originally from, but NOTHING like here in eastern Canada. <p>It is GORGEOUS -- the COLORS -- the WATER everywhere -- just everything. I've never seen so many John Hughes (Father of the Bride) type houses in my LIFE. No stucco here, just bricks and wood and balconies... so beautiful... and the squirrels are even gorgeous!!! In the desert, there were these silly looking scraggly brown squirls with cat-like tails that didn't have much fluff, but... here?... BIG HEARTY BLACK SQUIRRELS WITH BOTTLE BRUSH TAILS [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] ...<p>...and then when it SNOWS, oh my!!. In the High Desert of Calif it snows too... and they close the schools for an inch of the white stuff... haha... my H laughs about that, because last year, when I got here, it snowed like mad, and the busses NEVER ONCE missed a day to pick up the kids... and in some places... 10 feet of snow (well, they piled it up, it really was about three feet! [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] ). <p>I miss my native California -- indeed I do -- but I see the lush beauty here too, and appreciate it.

Hi after shock,<p>Nice to hear from you again. I'm sure that thread is still around somewhere. I should go back and read it again to help remember how I was feeling back then (ala BTDT's question).<p>Around here we have these huge Loblolly pines everywhere, about 80-100 ft tall. Nothing like them in the Midwest. Pictures of my house just have the bottoms of the trunks in them, the tops (with the branches) are waaaay up there.<p>I think South Carolina is one big forest, except where we have roads or buildings. A lot of roads, especially outside the city, are just cut through the trees. Whenever you build something here you have to cut down trees.<p>I take Bush River Road, which follows the Saluda River for a while. I have to hop on I26 for about 4 miles. As you come around the curve on I26 by Riverbanks Zoo, a few of the bigger buildings in Columbia (about 20 stories) poke their heads up above the trees in the middle distance. <p>As the interstate winds along the Saluda for the last 2 miles or so, more of the ciy reveals itself. Today, it was really hazy, foreboding a warmer afternoon.<p>Funny thing -- W hates electric bills, so she doesn't turn the heat on until we start seeing our breath (inside the house!!!). Well, at least it seems that way. I've been just as cold down here as I ever was in Yankee territory.<p>Jeffers

jeffers,
Ah ha, now I know - we moved from Beaufort in June 2000 - that's why I was prodding you. I ran alot up and down I-17, and spent quite a bit of time in Charleston. That's exactly where I thought you were going to say - actually a place close that begins with S - <p>To tell you the truth in 1998 it was cold enough for me - but most of the time it wasn't - hated that humidity. We were part of the 3M exodus from the coast during the hurricane in Sept 199? - oh my wasn't it 1999? That was bizzare trying to get out of town - bumper to bumper for hours. We actually cut across in a diagonal to Spartenburg. We actually experienced two direct hits by hurricanes on the east coast, and I'm a west coast gal.<p>Wish I had a fireplace, and lots of cold to burn a fire - dream on - I don't even own my own home - oh well. <p>Enjoy that fall, you sound wonderful, even if your W won't turn the heat on. At least she's protecting your money. aftershock

BtDt,<p>I don't think you are in a MLC? Ya really think so?<p>Interesting that you pointed that out. The thread that after shock was referring to had a big discussion in it (w/ C A L I , newwoman and others as well) or maybe a whole bunch of similar threads .. hard to remember. I posted this primarily because I do feel different. I'm glad you noticed.<p>I don't think that a MLC is just overwork or busy-ness, well maybe times ten. A whole bunch of people have posted links to MLC sites. They pretty much described me. Many end up in affairs. Glad I at least avoided that part of the nightmare.<p>In California, since there are no seasons, I think the plants have to invent their own. There's always something dropping leaves, or flowering, in every season.<p>Jeffers

Well sheesh, jeffers, at some point in our lives we stop and ask ourselves if are we REALLY content with the way we are living and whether we need to make changes and basically reevaluate our very existence and purpose...<p>I'm sure it's primarily hormonal, similar to the way menopause affects us women so drastically, but yet subtle changes as the years go by. Some not so subtle as in the loss of the old sex drive! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0[/img] Thank goodness I'm not THERE yet! [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>I guess we just have to make adjustments for this thing called aging and try to do it with dignity and grace. Oh yes, and give ourselves a big break along the way. NOBODY's perfect...

Orchid,<p>PBR? For me? Yikes. Well, I guess that's one way to get rid of her. LOL. I can't think of that beer now without laughing. That's one way to lessen their hold on you, turn them into a joke! Or, maybe they turn themselves into a joke.<p>Yes, I went down that creek road. What a cool place to live. I drove down White Av. (from the interstate) through the town of Alum Rock. Beautiful area. I'm jealous.<p>I parked in the lot at the end of the road and saved $4. Then I hiked all the way to the other end and back. I figured you had to know where that park was. WOW, now I'm convinced you really have good sense. [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Nyneve,<p>We vacation in Canada, in Parry Sound, about 3 hours NW of Toronto on Georgian Bay. We supposedly live in the semitropics down here, but the stuff in Canada defines LUSHNESS. I guess when you only have two months of summer you've got to put it to good use.<p>Jeffers

Hi Jeffers, <p>Glad you liked that joke. $4.00 for parking? That's the tourist charge. he he he!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img]
That's why the locals ride bikes [img]images/icons/shocked.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Good sense? Nah just lucky to pick a nice place to live. <p>Alum Rock isn't really a city just one of the rural areas turned suburb. <p>Say with all the good places you have been to, you can start your own travel service and give tours. <p>"Relieve your stress, visit all these peaceful places." <p>Anyway, offer still stands. Free Beer and bike - no rental fee. he he he!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img] <p>L.

OK, Guys,<p>All this talk of lushness makes me feel bad.<p>Where I live, it's flat as a pancake, there are no rivers or lakes, and the few trees we do have are less than six feet tall. So far, we've had only 8.28 inches of rain all year, and there is more brown than green. However, we do have gorgeous world-class sunsets, and we love our horned toads.<p>Thanks for giving us something pleasant to think about.<p>Estes

Jeffers,<p>I figured you'd be a nature lover with that Enya sig line of yours.<p>Jo

After shock,<p>We were neighbors!<p>You've probably been to Hilton Head. My parents live in the last "plantation" before the bridge to the island. They've been here since the year before Hugo. <p>I remember Floyd well (Sept '99). Was glued to the Hurricane Center web page. At one point it was predicted to hit Hilton Head and pass straight through Columbia. I think it was Cat. 4 at that time.<p>Got into the big traffic jam that night on the way home. Took back roads but still was an hour to go 10 miles.<p>Jeffers