The Swirl of Leaves and Life

     It's a windy Fall in Pittsylvania County.  The more the wind blows the more the leaves, now showing us their true colors, fall from their previously well planted stems. As they fall, they find themselves subject to the whim of the wind.  Those remaining aloft seem to drift upward. Just when it seems they will remain that way endlessly, they suddenly lose the wind and fall to mother earth's waiting arms.
     Tiny leaves swirling against the curb of the parking lot look trapped and hopeless to escape the trap of concrete and cars, wind and whirling.  Each leaf shimmers and shivers alone, yet in concord with the rest.
     When we stop trying to be what we think people want us to be, we show our true colors.  Sometimes we float up high and it is truly exciting and energizing.  Just when we think we will remain aloft, we are dropped down with no wind under our wings.  Little problems can keep us swirling in indecision, feeling alone and trapped,  But, we are not alone.  There are friends and co-workers, church members and family members who will help us remember that we are all swirling around together.  And, when we swirl together, we can shimmer and shine.                    Like the falling leaves, we can drop and know that someone can be there to catch us, if we will just let them. Take a moment and enjoy the beauty of the falling leaves in Pittsylvania County and rest easy on the earth.

The Irony of Grass  4/30/14

The yards in Chatham start greening up the minute the air warms and the sun shines longer each day.  The air is filled with the sound of mowers and blowers and trimmers and spreaders. The flowers bloom with no provocation, and; the trees bud with wild abandon.  

One yard stands out along the block.  A yard that in the past was a haven for broken mowers:  riding, pushing, weeding and blowing.  A yard mowed well by the premiere lawn mower repair person in all of Pittsylvania County, I hear tell.  
When my mower failed us, someone said, "Take it to Junior, he'll fix you up right."  We did.  We all did.  He was a whiz in size 8 shoes.  

And, now, his yard mourns his loss.  His faithful grass keeps coming up even though he's not there to mow it.  Loyal customers ride by the empty shed where he worked his majic, no mowers in waiting, the yard is clear for the grass to grow.  
It's growing and going unmowed, the only yard on the block that is unkempt, uncared for and unmowed.   I see it there alone and abandoned and I feel the irony of it's existence, the sting of loss, the pity for the ones Junior left behind and I wonder about grass.  Does it even care?  No, it's just there because that's where it is.  

It isn't a House and Garden yard, it's just another yard in Pittsylvania County.  

Wild Winter Whirled



Winter whirled around us this month. As Spring drew nigh, the winter winds flew. Snow swirled around Pittylvania County like the rest of the world didn't exist. Rain, then ice, then sleet, then rain, then snow pelted windows, roads, cars and faces relentlessly. It seemed that Spring was here, then all hope was dashed after a day and a half. The snow was back. It looked just like the week before! Snow flew sideways, straight down and up, seemingly all at once. Just like life, it just kept coming at us, harder and more ferosciously as the day wore on. A trip to the store just a mere 3 miles away began on a barely wet road and 30 minutes later, cars were creeping along the totally white road like turtles in a sack race.

The low, building sound of the snow scrapers, one following the other splashed white snow and ice mixed with sand to the sides of the road both clearing and clogging. The roads are clear, the driveways are clogged. What good is a clear road when the driveway is blocked by three feet of dirt, ice and snow?

Work is opening two hours late. So, we'll all bust our guts clearing the driveway to experience a stressful drive to an office that likely will close as soon as we arrive at our assigned destinations? Decisions were made based on personal fortitude. This worker has had fortitude in the past, but that is past. Fortitude is over rated and definitely an attribute which should be designated for the young.

Winter will whirl away and Spring will fling soon enough, or; not soon enough.

Snow is mostly a stranger in this part of the state. We dream about it, hope for it and are usually disappointed by it's lack of appearances. But, when it comes, it reigns supreme! We've been fooled before by inaccurate forecasts and wishful thinking. This time: weather reports were spot on! A phone call alerted me to the first flakes in Danville. The Main Street live webcam which had shown clear skies and dry pavement all morning long and only moments before, now revealed large white floating flakes drifting swiftly in the camera's view. I put on my coat and left work. A generally 20 minute ride took 45 harrowing minutes to complete. The cars were covered within an hour. All afternoon the snow thickened like creamy potato soup. By nightfall the snow blew sideways and the wind howeled spitting a mix of snow and sleet in my face as I stood in the yard with the dog. The tick, tick, tick of falling ice on my window kept me informed throughout the night of the storms' progression into chaos. By Friday, our friend the sun crowned the afternoon with brightness. All hopes of the storms' passing were dashed as it revved back up Friday afternoon, spreading fear and panic. It was the storm before the calm. That last dog walk late Friday night gave me moonlight and stars and clear sky.

Human Sites

Monday, February 10, 2014
      Sites seen on a beautiful Saturday e'en were lovely young people and, a few not quite so young, spreading their wings to fly. Exploring the limits of their freedom, the cast of Vagina Monologues reached deep into their female souls to pull out performances rife with expression. Their readings ranged from subdued rage to delightful elation. All were sites to be seen. In varying colors from pink to shimmering red, the ladies both bared and covered their legs, wore flats, tennies and heels, short skirts, long skirts, pants, tights and jeans, sweaters, t-shirts and scarves. Women wearing what they want, where they want. Beautiful.
     A lovely, late night party exposed more sites of lovely, sweet, intelligent young people all looking for or living their passion. Men and women with gifts to give and long lives to live who want to make a difference in the world, and in their birth place and where they call home. Guests were playing piano, singing show tunes, snacking on home made ham biscuits, colorful miniature cupcakes, and spicy dips with salty chips; raising their glasses, toasting the moment. These sights and sounds were very pleasing to me, giving me hope for the future, and love for the present.

Weight of Water
Winter 2013

     Passing over White Oak Mountain one morning in the winter, the clouds were weighted down with water. No view of the mountains in the distance, no blue sky, no sunshine lighting up the atmosphere. 
    The heavy clouds just hung over the darkened hills ahead. The farther north I drove, the farther the rain seemed to have pushed it's way through the clouds, falling to the ground. Droplets falling, seemingly weightless.
     If you've ever carried a pail of water you know that water is heavy. Spread out among the droplets, it seems weightless. And, yet, those clouds over the mountains look so heavy and full of the promise of life giving water. 
    The weight of water happens after the wait for water. We love the sunshine, we need the rain. So, when the wait for water ceases, the weight of water begins its' slow descent to mother earth waiting below. 
     On the drive home, the clouds were still heavy over White Oak Mountain. What appeared to be lightning in the clouds, was actually the reflection of the beakens from cell phone towers. Their blipping white light reflected off the clouds as they made their ascent back into the upper atmosphere. 
     We benefit both from the wait and the weight of the water. 
     The wait for water weighs heavily on my mind.

Llamas Lay on the Hay

The Llamas lay on the hay, hey, hey


The llamas lay on the hay.


The donkey's in there today, hey, hey


The donkey’s in there today.


Coyotes, you better beware; the donkey’s always in there,


he’s guarding and watching your prey, hey, hey


He’s guarding and watching your prey.


The llamas have plenty of class, but, the donkey, he’ll kick your ass!


The llamas lay on the hay, hey, hey


The llamas lay on the hay.