Fall announces itself softly
with drifting leaves
in freshened breeze
before the rain

I’m enjoying this fall season more than any other I remember.  The contrasting foliage, quiet fog blankets, torrential rainstorms, and southbound vees of Canada geese seem new and wondrous to me.

I kinda missed the last two falls due to distractions.  Two years ago, I was dealing with the side effects of concurrent chemo-radiation therapy combined with news that I had progressed to metastatic lung cancer.  Last year, after another recurrence despite second line chemo and more radiation, I was scrambling to find a clinical trial.  Being focused on questions of life and death overshadowed little things like the changing of leaves.  It also fueled an awesome case of writer’s block.

I’m hoping to make good use of these cool gray days to rebuild my strength, read good books, declutter the house, and write.  A lot of writing.  I’m years behind on writing.

My productivity is boosted by using my lightbox to counter any drift towards Seasonal Affective Disorder, and nibbling dark chocolate now and then.  I’d love to include the Seattle addiction (coffee) in my regimen, but it disagrees with my cancer pills. I’ll trade being less alert for more alive any day.

Feline overlords Admiral and General are doing their part by keeping my feet warm.  Well, at least one foot.