November snow

Here we are! The first few snows of year waited until November to begin! I don’t know about you all, but I’m fine with that! We were spoiled with a very warm fall season!

Now that snow has arrived, I’m reluctantly letting go of October, my favorite month, with my favorite holiday! I suppose Thanksgiving, Christmas and the rest can come!

The holiday season comes with certain expectations, traditions and the subtle awareness of the passage of time. Another year, another age, another possibility of the last of whichever holiday it is with someone who may not be here for the next round of holidays.

As I gaze out my living room window, I try to recall how much shorter the pine trees were when we moved into this house maybe 12 years ago. How much has changed and how my children have grown into adults. Where they were and where they are now.

I look at my husband’s life, how hard he works, planting after harvest, after planting again. Today he is helping his cousin finish his harvest in the snow! Tony finished harvest just this past Thursday. It’s a long cycle that keeps going year after year. There is comfort in that, even when times are hard.

The holiday season is upon us once again. What can we do to make it a little more special for others we meet and ones we don’t? Think about pulling a tag from an Angel Tree somewhere. Drop those coins and dollars in a container to help those who can’t help themselves. Smile when you don’t have to. Offer to lend a hand when you’ve nothing else to do. Don’t sit by and do nothing. With the pandemic continuing to wreak havoc across the nation and the world, please find the strength within to lend a hand to others.

A very dear friend of mine recently lost her son to Covid. I can’t imagine the pain she is in. Her son’s motto was, “I can help you with that.” I’ve been trying to keep that in mind when I’m stressed out, or in a bad mood. His kindness made a difference in so many others’ lives and I feel the need to honor that in his memory for my dear friend.

Last Sunday I took my neighbor’s dog for a walk and it was great! I hope to do that often. There are several dogs in my neighborhood that don’t get to go for walks and I’m thinking about asking if I can do that for their people.

Can you think of something to do that’s a little out of your comfort zone to help someone else along the way?

November is the month when we are to give thanks.