Red Auerbach dies

I turned on tonight's 11 o'clock news to hear that Celtics legend Red Auerbach had died. This would have been his 57th season with the Celtics. Bob Lobel had a lengthy biography/tribute as the top story with footage of dozens of games I remember watching, in person or on TV.

I didn't know him personally, but I'd seen him many times at Celtics games, and read hundreds of thousands of articles about him and the Celtics. He was there during the glory days, the years when I wouldn't miss a game (except on Sabbath). He changed the Celtics, changed progressional basketball. It's not the same today. I can't remember the last time I watched even a quarter of a Celtics game. That might have something to do with the job I have and the more important things I have to do. But that's besides the point right now. Red Auerbach is dead. And that saddens me.

Pretty as a Pumpkin!

I was dragging home at 8:30 last night...pulled into my parking spot...gathered my computer bag and cell phone...staggered across the driveway to the steps to my condo...looked up to get my barrings...and looked square in the face of these two beautiful pumpkins!

I couldn't get over it! In all the years I have lived here, there has not once been so much as a pumpkin on the stairs never mind something as beautifully carved as this! The sight delighted me. I whipped my camera out of my bag and snapped this picture. I was smiling all the way inside =)

Autumn Beauty

I cannot believe how beautiful it is this fall! It is absolutely taking my breath away! I am in South Lancaster the first part of this week for meetings at the Union office and I have loved every single minute of driving. Around every corner is something more beautiful. I am staying at my youngest sister's in Leominster so I don't have to drive home every night. As a result, I have been driving through Lancaster woods to get to her place. It's absolutely beautiful! I have no words for it other than that!

Last year the colors were not so great, but this year they are spectacular. And it was kind of rainy this afternoon as I was driving through the glory of it all. It was just that much brighter, that much more lovely.

I was talking with my mother about how wonderful it all is, saying how ironic it is that the reality of all this color is that the leaves are dying. On the one hand you think that this is what heaven must look like. On the other hand, you know there will be no death, dying or loss there. So...imagine how much more amazing heaven will be!!!!

The shoes...

I knew as soon as I posted the pictures of the shoe box that I should have posted one of the shoes, too. But I got caught up in the day...lots of cleaning and planning for school and I just never got to it. Until now. So...enjoy!

New Shoes!

I bought a pair of new shoes on Friday. I've had my eye on them for a few months, now, but couldn't bring myself to pay $60 for them! I've never spent that much money on a pair of shoes before, and I'm not about to start now. Still...I've been wanting them...and resisiting them...

Friday when I went in the store, I was looking for some dressy black or brown pants shoes that are tall enough (as in a slight platform perhaps) to keep my pants from dragging on the ground. I didn't find any. But...I when I wandered around to where the dress shoes I've been eying were, I saw a sign I love to see: "On sale!" And there they were...more than 50% off. And I had to have them.

When I got home and went to take them out of the box, I noticed the box had writing all over it. And now I was more interested in the shoe box than the shoes. Here's what it said:

grow change explore who you are where you want to go ~ elegant yet ~ raw moi la passion ~ Journey of heart ~ The Journey ~ This is the story of friends making the journey ~ let yourself feel ~ Feminine, pretty with Pretty clothes ~ Dainty ~ dress yourself in your heart's desires ~ You can find inspiration in everything if you can't look again. ~ How do you feel today ~ Express that. ~ Up down not sure ~ Can we help ~ Easy effortless Sensusal, raw ~ Stand right for right now. ~ Create your outside like your inside ~ Passion ~

Makes me want to research the shoe company and see what their mission statement is. Seems like it's a lot like mine...

God's World

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!

Thy winds, thy wide grey skies!
Thy mists that roll and rise!
Thy woods this autumn day, that ache and sag
And all but cry with colour! That gaunt crag
To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff!
World, World, I cannot get thee close enough!

Long have I known a glory in it all,
But never knew I this;
Here such a passion is
As stretcheth me apart, -- Lord, I do fear
Thou'st made the world too beautiful this year;
My soul is all but out of me, -- let fall
No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.

Poem: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Pictures: Trees round and about my condo

It's a small world...getting smaller

This past weekend, my sisters, niece and I went to a college in TN to visit my other niece and to hear her perform in her first college orchestra concert. We also wanted Kaitie to see what the college was like and if she would want to go there next year. We had the expected happy time reuniting with Julie and meeting her friends. We went out to eat with them not once but twice, and enjoyed hearing the orchestra twice as well.

In addition to the anticipated joy, though, was the surprise of seeing former students, some of whom I haven't seen for more than 20 years! Here's how small a world it is now. My sisters, Kaitie and I were sitting in the third row at church, right in front of the cello section (the orchestra wsas playing for church) so we could see Julie. Suddenly, I noticed the woman who was shepherding three adorable little boys into the row ahead of us. Our eyes locked, and sparked with recognition. It was a "girl" I had taught at my very first school in MI, 23 years ago!!! Through whispered conversation, I found out that she married her academy sweetheart (who I also taught). When I said I was there to hear my niece, she was delighted to see who I pointed out: her son's cello teacher, my niece!!! Oh, such a small world. But...it got even smaller when she told me that two others of my niece's students are sons of another former student of mine!!! How amazing is that?

Later that evening, at Evensong, I turned around and found myself face-to-face with a more recent former student, who ended up sitting with us for the the program. And the day before, two other former students were part of the group that went out for lunch (at a very fine Italian restaurant, I might add).

Lunch Saturday afternoon was at the home of a dear friend and former roommate who is married to someone I used to date, sort of. Oh yes, it is a small world!

I have not been a single place in the whole world (and I've been to nearly 30 countries by now) where I didn't meet someone I know or who knows someone I know. I find that amazing, and amazingly cool.