This morning, near my bedroom window
It seems incredible that I would use gloomy and October together, since October is my favorite month and I savor this time of year. I'm in one of my notorious deep depressions, the tainted root of which is so firmly ensconced in the darkest depths of my enigmatic psyche that neither the wisdom of Freud nor the power of a steamroller could extract it or straighten it out.
Jon, you have a frighteningly unique way with words. Too bad it doesn't attract readers.
Kemo Sabe, my uniqueness is reserved for only a discriminating few who have incredibly good taste. If I appealed to the mundane masses I'd be worried.
Why bother with doom and gloom - when you're enjoying your favorite season and finally living in a peaceful place, surrounded by the beauty of nature?
If only it were that simple. There are no entirely happy endings. Life - no matter where we are - is an endless series of complications, unexpected unpleasantness, detours, insurmountable problems, and agonizing tribulations.
Care to expound?
Naw, it would take too long. Besides, I'm still missing the "i" key cap on my laptop keyboard (or "I" key, for you purists) and it's annoyingly difficult to type anything of great length.
I've completely forgiven Bosco, but I still see "i" keys every time I look at him.
If you didn't read my previous blog post you won't have any idea of what I'm talking about......
.....but that's okay. I'm always an enjoyable read, even if I'm incomprehensible.
This final week of October has been rainy, chilly, and dreary. Perfect Halloween weather. There is always a deep sadness in my soul (or what's left of it) when October dwindles to a few precious days. I'm especially disheartened this year, because I've been too busy and distracted to enjoy the month. It literally flew by almost unnoticed.
The foliage was reluctant to change into beautiful autumn colors until late in the month, and now - suddenly - the peak of the splendor is gone. Trees are shedding the last of their leaves very quickly and I'm certain that by Halloween autumn will only be a naked echo.
I'm glad that I walked on my property last Friday and took photos - on a warm, sunny day. I went again on Monday, but it was rainy and dank. And I walked today, in a chilly drizzle - trudging through piles of wet leaves and soggy earth. I made a walking stick out of a sturdy branch, which saved me from falling on my ass again.
I took more photos today, only because it will probably be my last chance to enjoy and document the foliage. Every day the trees are more bare and prospect of winter is unnervingly evident.
Some of today's photos:
My cat Scratch demands to go outdoors every day, despite the weather. She got soaked today from the rain.
Note:
All photos copyrighted by Jon
Use and distribution is prohibited, by pain of death (I don't know exactly what that means, but it sounds official).
Violators
will be stripped, publicly humiliated (use your imagination), tarred,
feathered, ridiculed, forced to watch a speech by Hillary Clinton (which
should kill you) and afterwards your quivering carcass will be hung in
the public square, to be devoured by hungry pigeons.
......come to think of it, pigeons don't eat meat, do they??
those are nice colors. it's supposed to warm up again for the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI keep expecting Bigfoot to show up in one of my photos......
DeleteSimply beautiful. As you know I don't see anything like that here. When are the rest of your feline crew going to test the outdoors. A new adventure for you to keep up with them.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of trouble keeping up with three cats. Scratch and Scruffy enjoy going outside but Bosco is more timid. Perhaps he'll venture out in time.....
DeleteI am so pleased to learn you are using a staff to walk safely in your beautiful yard. The trees are happy to share their wonder of fall light and colors. Cats, however, possess no such generosity of spirit. They are egotistical and illiterate beyond the letter "I" which, if they see anyone else using, they feel compelled to disable. Your plan to substitute another letter between "u" and "o" is a sound one. And I agree with your prohibitive copyright note, even though I'm a Democrat.
ReplyDeleteThe staff has helped immensely when I walk around this beautiful but treacherous place. My father had several hand-carved walking sticks but they were among the many things that were :lost" by the movers.......
DeleteAs for the missing "I", you were right - - it's difficult to write a memoir without it. Perhaps I can write it in the third person.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you now that you're living in such a beautiful part of the country. Don't you love the change of seasons? Even the cold and snow of winter although we both have to be very careful that we don't fall and injure ourselves. I'm sorry to hear that you have hit the speed bump of depression but I understand. Happens to me too. Even though there is little reason for me to be depressed since I have so much good in my life but it happens as you know. But you know this period will go away. Our lives are a series of ups and downs (this from the great philosopher Ron).
Ron
I've always loved the change of seasons - - especially after having lived 30 years in seasonless Southern California. I've suffered from bouts of depression my entire life but I always get over it. As you said, it's merely part of the ups and downs.
DeleteI never tire of seeing your photos, Jon ... particularly these autumnal images.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I'm sure appreciative of Philosopher(!) Ron's comments regarding your 'speed bump' of depression. I don't know if it helps (knowing), but there's several of us in that same boat. At least you're in a position to speak about it publicly.
(Too, I wonder if there's not a marvelous composition brewing.)
I wasn't going to take a lot of photos this autumn, until I walked in the woods and saw how beautiful it was.
DeleteI always worry about revealing too many personal things in my blog - - but I can't control myself. Writing is a necessary catharsis for me.
No composition brewing........yet........
Hi Jon,
ReplyDeleteHere's another disclaimer you can use for your photos:
"All Rights Reserved, All Wrongs Revenged."
:-)
-Andy
Brief and to the point. I like it.
DeleteA wonderful time of the year to listen to Hillary speak, I like the disclaimer
ReplyDeleteThere's no time of year when I like political speeches.....
DeleteWeather and leaves are about the same over here on my side of the mountains...!
ReplyDeleteLove the disclaimer....Can I use it?!
I'd be delighted if you used the disclaimer.
DeleteThe pics are amazing. Such a shame, then, that they're not lifting your spirits from where they are, somewhere down below - very far down, somewhere near the nadir. However, I do sympathise and wouldn't dare make light of it even though I can't know exactly what it is you're going through at these times.
ReplyDeleteActually, walks in the woods do lift my spirits and help to rekindle my optimism. I'm just presently burdened with a lot of personal troubles and worries but it's nothing new. I'll get through it - - I always do. And I appreciate your concern.
DeleteJon, the colors are beautiful. I've throughly enjoyed seeing home sweet home Tennessee! I live in Missouri but get home several times a year. We were at Cades Cove in July. My father's side of the family are from Sparta. Home is Lebanon, I love coming home. We have had no rain to bring out the full vast of colors here in Mid Missouri.
ReplyDeleteGabrielle Gengler
DeleteI'm originally from California but I lived in Springfield, MO for several years. I liked everything about the Ozarks except for those severe storms. I've only been in TN for a year but I love it here.
DeleteThrow some small chunks of meat to a pigeon. I'd be willing to bed he'd eat it.
ReplyDeleteA walk outside is the perfect way to lift sagging spirits. (Too bad it can't lift sagging body parts, too.) Your trees are looking beautiful. We still aren't seeing a whole lot of color here. Some, but not a lot. (But my roses are still blooming!)
ReplyDeleteAs for pigeons not eating meat, how about worms and bugs? (Not considered edible meat by ME, mind you, but technically speaking...)