This month, again, I am participating in the monthly blog chain. Until this weekend, I was keeping up, reading, commenting and thinking about my post. I had great plans, let’s just say about talking about a season that I love … normally.

Before me was Ralph Pines who wrote a story that I will have to go back to … you’ll see why in a moment. After me is Lauren. The rest of the list is at the bottom of this post.

And now, here is my story ….
I had great plans to tell you about the love of my life whom I met in the fall. I had great plans to tell you about the NC State Fair that is both tradition and history. I had great plans to tell you how this is the busiest season of the year for my real job, because it leads directly to Christmas.

I had great plans to write all of the above into a great flash fiction piece as I am so oft to do.

As happens so many times, great plans lay to waste because life gets in the way.

First, let me say that I love the fall, the cool crisp air that the cold fronts bring to an otherwise sweaty and steamy North Carolina. I love going to the beach and to the mountains as neither is crowded, prices drop and I can get a break. I love the fall because it prepares me for the not-busy season and I revel in all the happiness that surrounds me with my work.

This season, fall is actually the season to fall and will likely not be my happiest time as is the norm. Stop here if you’d prefer to stay happen and think happy thoughts about fall.

Two weeks ago, my grandmother, a ripe age of 91, fell and broke her hip. On Sunday, October 11, 2009, she passed away. On Friday the 9th, two of my children came down with H1N1 and the third has followed suit today. Tomorrow morning, I embark upon an 18 hour driving journey to be away from my family for 5 days while my husband mans the fort (not unusual) and my kids recover from their illnesses (without me) …. all the while hoping *I* don’t come down with it. So far, so good … knock on wood … salt over the shoulder. 😉

The season that I love so much has begun in such a bad way that I feel as if it will never recover, but I am actually pretty sure it will.

So, no big revelations about fall today … today it’s me looking at the downside and waiting to come up that hill — perhaps it’s just a bit steeper than normal.

To everyone else … I hope fall brings you joy and happiness and the wonder that it normally does for me. I think, once I do get my mini vacation in the mountains (compliments of Grandma and Grandpa) that my spirit will be renewed. It may even be after I spend 4 days with my super-extended family, celebrating the life of our 91 year old family matriarch.

Rest in peace Grandma. I’ll see you … again … someday.

——
PARTICIPANTS
1. Lost Wanderer
2. Claire Crossdale
3. Angela 785
4. Ravencorinncarluk
5. Angyl78
6. shethinkstoomuch
7. trulyana
8. Bsolah
9. freshhell
10. Ralph Pines
11. aimeelaine – https://www.aimeelaine.com/ <---Me--->
12. HigherEdUnderground
13. Cath
14. DavidZahir