The beauty of autumn, surprise visitors, a Halloween selfie, and more (7 Quick Takes)

~1~

I prefer spring and summer, but I would like to enjoy autumn more. As much as I don’t love the sense of winter and colder, darker weather coming, I admire the colors and stillness of fall. There’s something powerful about this time of year. I’m trying to take time to marvel at the colors of this season this fall.

~2~

I hadn’t seen my newest little godson, who was born in December, since his baptism in January. So, I was excited when his mom texted me Saturday morning to ask whether we would be home during the day if they were able to come for a visit.

We were heading to the boys’ weekly archery lesson—which I like to be able to say because it sounds so unexpected—but we were planning to be home for the rest of the day. When Simon arrived with his mother, brother, and sister, we were ready for them. I even had time to bake cookies and remind my sons that they can be wonderful, welcoming hosts to younger children.

Simon is so cute and getting bigger every day. I had the chance to introduce his mother, my friend Marie, to my husband and sons. Somehow, they had never met, mostly because Marie and I are friends who met through the Catholic blogging world. My younger son and Simon are birthday buddies who are also both born in the Chinese Year of the Ox, 12 years apart.

The visit was the highlight of my weekend. I can’t wait to get together with them again soon.

~3~

Several days ago, our dishwasher broke. Life was so busy that there was no way to fit in a visit with a repairperson, so we had to wait. When we were finally able to schedule a time for someone to come diagnose it, he told us that a replacement part would need to be ordered. That would take at least another week, and then we would need to find another time for a repairperson to come.

I have faith that one day the dishwasher will be fixed.

For now, having a broken dishwasher is a good reminder that there are many bigger problems in the world. It’s good for me to have to wash the dishes after every meal. It also makes me realize how many dishes we use every day.

~4~

One night this week, I had the chance to get dressed up and go to a fancy work dinner downtown, and I didn’t have time to run home to change. So, I went to my parents’ house to put on my dress—and to borrow a more elegant purse than I usually carry. I may also have borrowed cash from my father so I could tip the valet. (Remind me to pay him back when I return my mother’s dish.)

As I was getting ready at my parents’ house, I was thinking of the many other times I’ve dressed there. The last time was probably for my sister Treasa’s wedding, which was almost 10 years ago.

When I was ready to go, my father took my picture in front of his incredibly creative Halloween decorations. Then I took a selfie of us together.

~5~

The other day, I took a morning for myself without any specific plans. I went to Mass, got an iced coffee, stopped at Walmart, and went to the cemetery to visit our nephew Georgie and my grandparents.

It was an ordinary morning, and it was perfect. It felt so good to have a little unscheduled break just to take care of a few things.

And it had been much too long since my last visit to the cemetery.

~6~

We drove to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to visit my father-in-law. Sometimes we cook while we’re there or bring something, but this time my husband suggested that we stop at Ann’s Dari-Crème in Glen Burnie on the way to pick up a few of Ann’s foot-long hot dogs. We don’t do that often, but it was easy.

The aroma of the hot dogs, which have chili on them, filled the car as we drove across the Bay Bridge. That drive—with or without Ann’s footlongs—is always a little terrifying and a little exhilarating. I used to make that drive both ways every day when we lived on the Eastern Shore and I commuted to Annapolis. Every single time you cross the Bay Bridge, the sky and the water look different.

But Ann’s foot-longs? They are always exactly the same—and in the best way.

~7~

While grocery shopping the other day, I saw a sign that said, “Please ask for assistance before handling raw whole fish.”

I have no doubt that that sign is necessary, but I laughed thinking of the conversation behind the fish counter that led to making sure the wording was just right.

I can absolutely guarantee that I am not the target audience.

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