Passages

My only godchild was married last Saturday -- as fate would have it, the day was far from perfect, with torrential rains falling as the bride and her attendants entered the church, but Lana's smile as she came up the aisle provided all the sunshine necessary.

The wedding mass was celebrated in St. Joseph's Church in Troy, NY, one of the most lovely churches in our area. The reception was held at the Appel Inn in Altamont, in a quaint barn-like structure with floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors overlooking a wrap-around deck. By the time we reached the inn, the rains had ceased and the clouds were mingling with streaks of blue sky. Such a lovely wedding!!

My thoughts wandered back in time, rmembering Lana and her sisters as curly-haired toddlers. Their mother and I have been friends since childhood and shared the joys and stresses of mothering when our children were young. It seems like a heartbeat ago we were young, energetic and smooth-skinned. Now, we watch these young adults with pride in our hearts and tears in our eyes. Where did the time go? How did these precious little babies grow so quickly -- we thought the early years of diapers and sleepless nights would never end -- and suddenly they are grown, getting married, and having babies of their own.

Life passes -- we transition from one step to another without fully realizing how swiftly the passage goes. One moment we are young mothers with babes at the breast, and in the blink of an eye we are middle-aged grandmothers.

We must all live each moment fully and savor the pleasures, the little joys, and even the times of deep sadness that make up the tapestry of our lives.

In the blink of an eye, my godchild will be the Mother-of-the Bride --

Mourning Autumn

Yesterday afternoon I sat on my garden bench, rocking my baby granddaughter, savoring the stillness of the autumn day and the leaves falling gently from the maple trees. It definitely looks like fall, but the temperatures have reached the 70's the past few days, and the air is humid and carries the odor of car exhaust or some other similarly unpleasant chemical.

Autumn has always been my favorite season -- with its early morning frost, sparklingly clear air, chilly breezes, and delicious scents. Darkness falls heavily in the evening as we linger outside for one last breath of fresh air before we gather inside -- snug and cozy by the fire.

This year autumn has hesitated; the frosts have yet to come, and the vibrant colors of the falling leaves are muted. The warm slacks and sweaters that I love are hanging in the closet, and summer attire is the most comfortable on these warm days.

I assume that this is another indication of the global warming we hear so much about today. As a sensitive observer of nature I have noticed gradual changes in the seasons since the early 1970's, but in recent years the changes have become more pronounced.

Finally, people are beginning to recognize that a problem exists. Perhaps if the world were becoming colder people would have reacted sooner, but everyone loves warm weather. Hopefully, our scientists, politicians and corporations will be able to work together to find solutions to this complicated issue.

For now, I will just mourn the loss of autumn!

Welcome to Ponderings

Welcome to my blog!

This is a new experience for me, a writer of letters, journals and essays, but not a particularly computer-literate person. While I usually prefer the flow of words with pen to paper, I will give blogging a try.

Together we will explore the random thoughts of a fifty-something woman -- a potpourri of sorts -- from serious issues that affect our society to the pleasures to be found in my own tiny backyard.

Check back soon and see how it goes --