September catch up

September is nearly over. For most folks that means the weather is cooling and leaves are starting to change. Here, in North Florida, it is still very hot and very humid. Our fall comes near the end of October. The oak trees do shed their leaves and we get cooler days. The coolness will be a welcome relief this year. We have had a very very hot and humid summer.

Thank goodness, only one real hurricane threat this year. However, we do still have a month to go before we can rest easy.

September brought my oldest son's 40th birthday. He is an amazing man. Of course, I had to tease him a bit about being the big 40. He got me back in fine form. I called him on his birthday, and as soon as he answered there was no "hello", it was "so, how old do you feel right now". Yep, he was right. I find it hard to believe that I have a 40 year old son. Also hard is that my baby boy, is 34. Can that really be possible? That these two boys are now middle aged! When I look at them, all I can see are those little boy faces. I don't see the receding hairlines. I don't see the laugh lines around the eyes. I don't see that they are now so much taller than I am. I still see my boys. Thank goodness their laughter hasn't changed. I do love to hear them laugh. It is music to my heart.

September has also moved me one more month ahead in the journey of being 60. I've noticed that to see the guide on the television I have to put my glasses on and to hear someone on the phone I have to make sure the volume is at maximum. I walk a tad bit slower after a day of shopping. My stomach that once loved tacos or a bowl of popcorn before bed, now engages my brain with the question of, "really? you want this now or major heartburn later".

I did learn that I can still dance. Last week as I was walking back from our mail box a snake slithered in front of me. Oh you should have seen the "oh crap a snake" dance I did in my front yard. I haven't moved that fast for a very long time. I am sure my neighbors got a chuckle out of it. No one has admitted to seeing it though.

September has been quiet. One more month to put away on my journey.

Books and My Generation

I've been thinking about my love of books and that what we read says exactly who we really are. Also, that we display our books for visitors to see, to make the statement of who we are.

I looked at the books on my bookshelves and understood that they really say who I am.

From left to right on my books are as follows:

Barrack Obama:

The Audacity of Hope

Edward Rutherford:

The Forest

London

The Princes of Ireland

The Rebels of Ireland

Maureen Dowd:

Bushworld

Tom Robbins:

Villa Incognito

Jitterbug Perfume

and on my Kindle: B is for Beer

Zen Gardens

Jimmy Buffett:

Swine Not

Salty Piece of Land

Michael Moore:

Dude, Where's My Country

P. J. O'Rourke

Eat the Rich

All The Trouble In The World

Age and Guile

Molly Ivins

Who Let The Dogs In

David Wrobleske

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Gregory McGuire:

Wicked

Ken Follett:

Pillars of the Earth

World Without End

Lewis Black:

Me Of Little Faith

John Kennedy Toole:

Confederacy of Dunces

David Sedaris:

Naked

Augusten Burroughs:

Running with Scissors

Ann-Marie MacDonald:

Fall On Your Knees

Frank McCourt:

Angela's Ashes

Christopher Paolini:

The Eragon Series

Wally Lamb:

I know This Much Is True

Now, that is just one bookcase. It is the most prominent one. The one that everyone that would visit my home would see. So what does it say about me?

I believe that it says that I am definitely a left-wing liberal, that I enjoy humor, but that I love history, and just a damn good story.

I have a kindle e-reader and I do enjoy it. However, it has not deterred my love of real Books. I usually get my books from second-hand stores or when the library has a book sale. Some are given to me, there is never a better gift than a book.

I also believe that my choice in books shows that I still believe in a world without war, prejudice, injustice, and equality for all people. Next to my bed I keep a copy of "Zen Miracles" and it is my most valued book. I can look at a page or two and know that I am indeed the Captain of who I am. No one else, no mythic being, no political idealism, just my own mind.

One other thing before I close. I've been listening to all this silliness going around in the country. I think my generation (or at least some) owe our children and grandchildren an apology. We grew up thinking we could achieve a world without wars, without racism or sexism. We failed miserably. Some of my generation have back peddled to the 1950's. Lost their way, or prayed to the almighty dollar sign. I, for one, will keep up the good fight and hope that my kids and grandchildren will know that some of my generation stood for something greater than ourselves.