I mentioned I was drinking in the sunshine during lunch with my gal pals and it set off a series of clarifying questions: Drinking, in the sunshine? Or drinking in the sunshine? I admitted to both. It’s been that kind of week with sunshine and warm temps for plenty of lake afternoons, dipping into the chilly water, and relaxing afterwards until night calls us home. Vermont the past weeks has been the summer that never really happened, with sunny heat for days on end, which led to a plethora of lingering outdoors, our chairs facing the slanting rays and our chatter staying right in the present, boat watching, commenting on ducks, foliage. I found myself calmer and able to deal with all the day to day stuff with a level head just from being outside in such a pleasant manner. Certainly is easier when the sky is blue blue and the breeze is southerly, don’t you agree? October arrived with a splash of color making itself known on every deciduous tree and late blooming gardens, and that too elevated my mood. I know there are disasters down every avenue, but today, actually the whole string of todays that made this week, are magnificent. Perhaps for you too? As so often is the case on this small planet where we roll about as one.

I am so lucky to have a work crew who make me laugh as these gals do. There is never a moment we are not happy to be in each other’s company, and it is even more so when outside. On this particular day, it was a glorious combination of orange, yellow, red and the last of the green all around, blue sky above and blue lake below. Oh the chatter along the hike was utterly delicious, reminding me of the power of friendship and those rich connections that one feels as you open your heart to others. Not an easy task for a Scorpio, especially this one, but as there is always an easy embrace among these friends, sharing is a natural occurrence. Perhaps, hiking upward does this all on its own, where you just open to sweat and labor as you stride upwards, as you push yourself to get higher; once arriving, you perceive the world from above and see the tininess of your own struggle. Perspective shifts, and all the rest makes sense.

We generally make an effort to be festive in our home, and decisively this year. We are weeks away from the spooky holiday at the month’s end, but we took advantage of the warm weekend to light up the house with all the purple and orange one needs to bring cheer. I am thrilled to live with a master illuminator, one who imagines in color and light, and who is keen on sharing those moody hues with passersby. We stand under the stars ourselves, and enjoy the view as well, and at day’s end, think, Yes, this is a triumph.

While so much of our world needs constant care and support, a walk up to the high field reminds me that we will continue to spin with or without my immediate action, and certainly without my worry or panic. Here is the autumn. Soon enough we will retreat into our homes for the long winter, but for now, for this gift of summer in October, you will find us out and about, smiling into the fading light and feeling an exuberance usually associated with summer. Not a bad sensation at all. Drinking in the sunshine, falling in love with water and trees, hoping against the odds for everything to land just right.