Visit from Old Friends
I got to see a couple of old friends this month that I had not seen in a while. These friends have been there for me for about as long as I can remember. But it is funny how the circumstances under which a friend shows up… can make a difference in how it makes us feel at the moment.
One showed up about when he should have been expected. But I was not quite ready for him to show up. So even though I love the old friend… the surprise was not very pleasant as I was not prepared.
While the other also showed up about when he should have been expected. But I had thought about him earlier… and started watching for him. So when he finally showed up… I was ready and pleasantly surprised.
It is strange that I felt this way… because I really like the first friend every bit as much as the second one. In fact, I have really spent more time… and have had a lot more personal experiences with the first one. You might even say the second is really more of an old acquaintance… more so than a close personal friend. But the timing and circumstances effected the sensations/emotions I experienced when they showed up.
The first friend is named Snow. I was really hoping the kids would get a nice night for trick or treating this year. Instead, my beloved old friend showed up again for the first time this year on Halloween. Just as I headed out to take my seat and start handing out candy… I had to run back in the house to get a couple of garbage bags to cover the candy bowl so the candy did not get wet. Seems the last several years we have had a few flakes flying as I was setting out there. But this year it was coming down in earnest. I would guess it fell at about half an inch an hour… because the scarecrow beside me had about half an inch covering him after the first hour… and close to an inch before the second hour was up. At least the snow did not melt on him. I was not covered… but I was pretty wet and cold by the time the second hour was through. So November 1st… I woke up to a world of white. The old friend was much more appreciated the next morning… sparkling in the bright sunshine… with me warm and dry!
The second friend is called Orion. Another winter guest we don’t get to see all summer. I had started watching a few days ago but had not seen the massive constellation earlier. But tonight I headed out on my walk and got to a point where I could see the Eastern horizon… and there he was… just peaking out into view. By the time I finished my walk… he had made his way a bit higher into the sky… and was perched above the house as I started up the drive. I have been fascinated with Orion since early grade school when we had to research and write a paper about something… and I chose that champion of the Southern winter sky. Ever since I have watched for him to make his way across the winter sky… showing up late fall… and disappearing over the Western horizon toward spring.
How I do love the seasons… and the variety they offer! But it still takes a little adjusting to the cold… best get to it cause here it comes!