Autumn Equinox

Antler of Plenty

The seasons are changing. In my crazy life, where jobs start and stop and ebb and flow, and I'm somewhat cut off from the usual holidays due to my work schedule, I'm beginning to find that the changing of the seasons make more sense to celebrate. Yesterday I hosted an autumn equinox potluck. The antler of plenty (because we don't have horns in this neck of the woods) was the centerpiece on the table, which turned out to have quite a good spread. I think there were ten folks altogether, and it was great fun and a great group. Just right for our space, I think. I introduced everybody to the Swedish lawn game Kubb ('u' pronounced like 'u' in 'put'), having made a redneck version of the set from a 4x4 and a closet dowel cut down to something close to the proper sizes. ;) It worked out great, and everybody really enjoyed it. A new favorite, some even declared!

Tomorrow is the real Autumnal Equinox and I've been blessed with the day off. I'm not sure how I'll spend it just yet, but I'm thinking I ought to do something special, even if it's just going out for a hike. As the seasons change my life is about to change a lot, too. The garden is slowing down (although the weeds aren't!) and I'll be pulling up and planting a winter spread soon. Jack is back in the frontcountry and we've been talking on a fairly clear phone connection more or less whenever we want. It's done wonders for our relationship as we've been able to really start communicating again after months of each only half-understanding what's going on with the other. Most folks are finishing up their seasons at work. I've been fortunate enough to have been extended part-time (although I'm taking the first weekend off). Part-time means I'll be off several days a week, which will open up a lot of time in my schedule - time that I've yet to come up with a solid plan for filling. I think I ought to do some goal-setting, though, or else nothing will get done... I have made a list of all the various unfinished projects ("nagging tasks") that need doing and I think I will try to knock out one a day during October until I get them all taken care of - hopefully before Jack comes home, that way. I'll think of some more goals and post them here by the end of the month.

Another aspect of the equinox, aside from looking forward to the changes ahead, is reflecting on what's happened in the season prior. I've got a lot to be thankful for. I really liked this job a lot, which is more than I can say for last summer. This summer I wasn't begging for mercy and, while I did get a bit of the usual end-of-season burnout, it wasn't all that bad. I was blessed with good coworkers who had their act together and a boss who encouraged all sorts of interpretive experimentation and actually tried to be engaged in his employees and their interpretive programs. Apart from work, I had an excellent outlet in derby, and I really think that the sport has helped me a lot - in learning to work with the multiple personalities of a team, to not take everything so seriously, to fight back when I need to, and to generally stand up for myself a bit more. Not to mention that the ladies there are awesome. I've had a good year in the garden overall: learned a lot, took notes, put up plenty to help spice up the winter cuisine, and worked on my work ethic a bit. ;) And as much as I complain about the care and keeping of a two-bedroom house when you're all by yourself, I was blessed to be in here, to have such a nice home to come back to, to be able to share that home with many-a couchsurfer, and to have a fella willing to pay part of the rent even though he's not here because at the end of the day it's ours. Whether or not he's actually here, Jack's presence is very much felt in the home we've made, which somehow makes missing him not quite as bad because there's so much of him here.

Now before I start to get all mushy I'll leave off, because I think you get the drift. :)

The autumn equinox is upon us. In another month, Jack will be home, in two months we'll be married, and in three months it'll be winter solstice and time to think ahead and behind again! My how the world turns.

Until next time!