ANTICIPATION | Autumn

Summer in Southampton was far more full of people than I expected. Though I suppose with no mask mandates or vaccine passports, I shouldn’t have been surprised. The only downside of living in a tourist town is that there are so many people, like tenfold, that almost all of the local restaurants gave up on reservations, and chaos ensued. Good thing I’m a homebody and like to barbeque!

When I turned on the news, it was filled with our crumbling health care system; January 6 Committee Hearings; ridiculous trucker convoys (what the hell are they protesting?); the devolution of the federal Conservative party; ongoing atrocities Russia continues to impose on Ukraine; horrific decrees by the US Supreme Court making our neighbours even more dystopian; frightening weather news from all points on the map - here, Europe, Africa, everywhere; more mass shootings and zero response other than blaming the victims - anyone but the guns or the perpetrators. While all this was happening, our Canadian media often focused most of its energy on lost luggage and missed flights at Pearson. Avarice and fear continue to rule the day while I still maintain hope for the future. (On the topic of news - I’m a dedicated news junkie - after waffling for a couple of months, I had to turn off CNN, permanently.)

With Covid morphing into more virulent forms and the numbers going up, seriously straining our health care system (and every other system), I decided now is not the time to bring Bill home. I’m more disappointed than anyone. I’d like to put him to rest (though I’m sure, given who he was, he’s resting perfectly well when not making plenty of good trouble). Maybe next summer.

The good news? Friends and family made the drive to visit me and the pups - we had a wonderful time on the porch and at the beach. I promise, if you come up here for a visit, plan to be as lazy as possible, naps are encouraged. I read a copious number of books - not one under a 3+ star, a relief that I didn’t have to put any of them down, never to be picked up again. I put together several playlists on Spotify. I started therapy which has proven beneficial though the weight loss results I was hoping to achieve have not yet materialized, there’s been a lot of other good stuff. I got my 4th shot which provided much emotional relief though I continue to wear a mask indoors, much to the distress of many old men - weird. I spent my birthday (Labour Day weekend) in Cape Cod with my kids. I had forgotten how much I love a lobster roll and fried clams from Captain Frosty’s - so good!

I spent all of last weekend participating in OraclePalooza Virtual with Colette Baron-Reid and hundreds of people in the Woo Crew. It was a much-needed, fully-immersive event that required much journaling, reflection, and insight. The timing is perfect as I consider Autumn to be my new year. With my birthday at the beginning of September, it always felt like it was the start of something fresh and new - just like my fresh and new notebooks, highlighters and backpack. I feel like I’m on the precipice of something big, a shift that can’t be reversed. The weekend solidified that feeling of curiosity and anticipation, my workbook is filled with notes: ideas and impressions. The weekend culminated in my creating a sacred covenant - signed and everything. And so it is.

While all that was happening, the earth continued to spin on its axis, and I am reminded that I am but a speck of sand in the great scheme of things.

As for my autumn plans:

CELEBRATION season has arrived! Cole and I will be going to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a couple of days to witness the marriage of two lovely young people. We’ve known the family for years and love them all, we’re so happy to be included in their big day! We’ll come home for a big Thanksgiving celebration in Southampton. Chloé will graduate with her Master’s degree in International Public Policy (who could have guessed my little girl would be a policy wonk?) from the Balsillie School in Waterloo, followed by a family dinner in Toronto. Then a 5-day Relax and Restore spa visit as her graduation gift (I’m so happy to be her +one, mind you, I also get the bill!). I’ve re-joined the DreamQuest Mastermind, which will take me to Santa Fe for our first in-person meet-and-greet. I’m still contemplating what to do for Samhain, likely low-key (with a hat and full-sized chocolate bars for those brave enough to come to my door!) if I even make it home on time! We’ll likely lay low until the Holidays, which will (hopefully) find us in Jamaica.

RENOVATIONS are scheduled to start, which will give me a better functioning laundry room, as well as two updated and functional full bathrooms upstairs. My kids are excited that not only will the tub be fixed, but a second will be added. (I don’t know how I managed to have tub people!) That will end the interior renovations with only one room in the whole house not touched since I bought the place! Then I can turn my full attention to the exterior changes, which are (fingers-crossed, knock wood, pick-a-superstition) to start next spring. It all started with the porch and stairs falling apart under my feet, then interior damage made me realize that the windows AND roof needed replacing, and many things were no longer up to code, so I decided to go all-in and change up everything. It’s tricky, I’m taking this house from a fussy yellow Victorian to a blue/grey Timber Frame. It’s going to be gorgeous when it’s done! Pray for me.

READING more of what I love. Throughout the summer, some of my favourite authors (Katherine Center, Sarah Addison Allen, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and more) dropped some fantastic novels. I also discovered a few authors new to me and hope to catch up on their back catalogues over the next few months. Mind you, I have no doubt the big publishing houses have plenty of new releases in the pipe for autumn and winter! There will never be a lack of choice for what to read - and for that, I’m tremendously grateful (and hopeful!).

ORGANIZE (aka, purge) the big projects: office, closets, and back garage, before it gets too cold. I know there are a few “local” plus-sized consignment stores around, and I have far too many outfits that simply do not suit my current (or likely future) lifestyle. I’m even willing to give up my much-loved Eileen Fisher and other high-end clothing. What good are they to me if they collect dust in my closet? I’d rather have them loved and worn. With numbers on the rise, I wasn’t comfortable having a garage sale, so I’ll be busy on Facebook marketplace to sell summer tires, a small water heater, and plenty of light fixtures! I’ve become remarkably clear about what I need to keep and purge in my life. Now to get it done!

Autumn will bring, as always, big thunderstorms, spectacular sunsets, and tire changes. It is my favourite season, and I’m happy to dig out my sweaters and boots in preparation. After plenty of BBQ and salads over the last few months, I’ll be dusting off my crock pot and enjoying more comfort foods. Even though I order amazing artisanal bread, I’m considering figuring out how to make my own - I realize I’m late to that particular party! Really good, fresh bread does not last, so I need to do something between orders. That said, my regular routine won’t be interrupted. I’ll just have to make room for more time between appointments to accommodate inevitable weather delays. I’m excited to curl up on my new living room furniture (arriving soon I’ve been told!), flip the switch to turn on the improved fireplace and read more than a few books.

To me, everything about autumn is covered in soft light and is never quite focused. An ethereal time to savour and dream.

Lesson from the summer to take with me: progress is progress.