October 23, 2007
Last night we had our first freeze of the season and properly forewarned, we went out and picked most of the tomatoes that were still on the vines. They are placed on the garage floor on newspaper, and as they ripen, will provide enjoyment well into winter. Many of our deciduous trees were flinging down leaves today, eschewing a time of color entirely and going from tired green to bare branches in a few hours. The honey locusts on the hill, however, are gifting us with their tiny leaves of true yellow balanced on the tips of their twigs and we rejoice in their color for at least a day or so.
Near our house and the bird feeders, there is a territorial battle going on between three sharp-shinned hawks. While they chase each other from willow to cottonwood, their intended victims (the little sparrows, nuthatches, and finches) huddle under the safety of the wild rose vines that have climbed over a number of plum bushes near the stream. At one point, one of the hawks sat on top of our largest bird feeder and seemed to say, “Mine! This is all mine!” Moments later, another came swooping past and the chase continued. So much for “peace in the valley”.
This past week I have been the victim of flu. With compromised immunity, the germs have had a field day within my system; instead of staying for a short visit, they are making themselves at home and apparently having a very fine time while I drink Gatorade and eat the B(bananas)R(rice)A(applesauce)T(toast) food regimen as best I can while popping Imodium AD and hoping for the best. The blood readings today were abysmal and the oncologist’s office repeated several times that I must be very aware of my temperature, and at any sign of a fever, I must see the doctor at once. Meanwhile, I have been prone in the recliner coveting just about everybody – Charles, with his great energy and good cheer, my friends, seemingly hale and full of accomplishments, my children, the neighbors, the mailman. . . Alphie. Well, perhaps not Alphie so much though his bouts of hysterical joy at the simple word “Walk” do provide a reminder to take whatever good one can from each present moment. I believe that we had lost a bit of fervor in our compulsive hand washing, and this experience is ramping up the discipline as nothing else can.