Using the squirrel as my model for what to do before winter comes, I am going to start storing all my "nuts" for those long cold winter days. In case I forget how wonderful the start of September has been, I am writing it down now. For two solid weeks we have had glorious sunny and warm days. The sunflowers are bursting, the temperatures soaring and the sun shining everywhere I go.
What is so great about a warm September? Everything. The flowers are still blooming, leaves are still on the trees, grass is still green and it feels like summer has extended its stay. And in Northern Alberta any time summer lingers I am grateful. You won't know that by the time we hit the 2nd month of snow and -30 as I grumble my way through the winter. That's why I am storing this. I want to have a "happy" place to go to soak up a few sunny memories and remind myself that we will have these warm, sunny days again.
I get why the bears are roaming our town right now feeding on all the abundance of the berries, fruit and anything else they can get their paws on (not me yet). And I get why they hibernate. Fill that stomach to bursting, store some fat and then sleep through the worst of the cold and dark days of winter. The flocks of geese, swans, cranes that are going south - I get it! That includes all you "snowbirds" who are booking tickets, cleaning out the RV, closing up the house - I get it!
But I don't want to. I want to stay in this "happy" place. I want to roll in the sunbeams, bury my nose in the flowers, sit and watch the sunsets and linger for as long as I can. I know I can't "keep" a moment, but I sure can "make" a memory and store it for those cold, dark days that are sure to come along.
Happy Fall Everyone.
