Yesterday I spent a chunk of time sorting through photos for a haiku creating module that I'm doing with my English 101 students. Although I took this picture in late August, this one leapt out at me as having a spooky, Halloweeny vibe:
But as I looked through the file this morning, I thought others might work better:
The first picture will give students more to write about--more about this project later. Back to today's writing vibe, which is more late summer than autumnal.
Here I am, astonished at the fact that it is Halloween. In past years, I've spent more time in stores that have costumes, bags of candy for trick-or-treaters, and decorations, and these displays often go up in August. This year, there is a Helene shaped hole in my October. I went to a few stores in Columbia, SC, when I went down to get internet access and electricity at a friend's house, and I remember feeling astonished that the calendar had kept rollicking along without me. The grocery stores here have very small displays of candy.
Plus, it's been a very warm autumn. In fact, the last few nights, I've had the windows open, and yesterday, I went for an afternoon walk in a sleeveless shirt.
How long ago it seems now, back in early September, when I bought my first pumpkin to create a pile of pumpkins that I like to have at the end of the driveway, by my mailbox:
Last year, we were well into 2024, months after I tossed the pumpkins in the back yard to make room for Christmas displays before the squirrels began to nibble on them. This year, they've begun--and that's fine with me.
It's rattling to think that in a month, I'll need to be thinking about those Christmas decorations for the fence line. My favorite time of year, from late August to December 24 is quick slipping away. Let me try to be more present in the current moment.
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