Autumn is my Boo (but not my only one!). I love the weather and the things that come with it: cooler weather, wearing sweaters, sipping cocoa, roaring fires in the fireplace. I’m not a big Halloween guy, per se, but I’ve grown to enjoy it more as we’ve developed a few traditions around the day.

I also like that its our wedding Anniversary month (21 years tomorrow). I take great pride in our marriage and all that we’ve weathered together, not the least of which was fighting for it to be legally recognized. It is also the Anniversary of the date I started working for my agency, 22 years as of the 14th, which means a another year of service credit completed and another year closer to retirement (5 years, 7 months to go.)

To add to the sense of change and anticipation with this new time of year, we’ve also recently jumped back on the health band wagon, purging the house of all the bad foods that have contributed to our rapidly increasing waistlines and returning to regular exercise and healthier eating. (No Necco Wafers, Black Licorice, or syrup filled Wax Bottles for us this year, I’m afraid. *smirk*) Unlike many, we don’t try to get in shape for summer swimwear every year – we try to slim down for favorite warm fuzzy pajamas and sweaters that were getting snug the previous year.

Additionally, October will be quite different, thanks to COVID and its supporters aka the Covidiots that want to pretend this Pandemic isn’t happening or that they have no responsibility to their communities or families help stop the spread and save lives. So no weekends away to our favorite fall get aways and no trick-or-treaters.

I know many dread this time of year – the passing of summer, increased darkness and cold, and the impending snow (for those of us living where it does so) and I know it is particularly difficult for those affected by SAD. (I am not immune to bouts of SAD myself, but that tends to hit me in January.)

But, if I’ve learned anything in my 49 years of life, its that I must find moments of bliss, even in the darkest of times. My head, heart, and soul need respite from the barrage of bad, especially if I’m going to keep fighting the good fight. So please forgive me if there’s a small spring in my step and song in my heart this morning. These spurts of happiness seem fewer and far between these days, so I need to embrace and revel in them when they come.

Happy October. May there be good news and times ahead for us all.