Each of the seasons has a “feel”. It is the way the change of weather affects mood, interest, sometimes even quality of life. Today, I noticed autumn’s arrival. It is a colossally beautiful, clear, sunny day where I am. There is a soothing breeze rustling about, and windows have been opened to welcome it all. For me, autumn brings a feel of refreshment, a calming. The cooler air sends my thoughts to the upcoming holidays and to activities outside where the temperatures are pleasant and inviting. Autumn, I would say, is my favorite season of all.

For most of my life, I lived in the northeast, where winters can be brutal and seem never-ending, spring and summer hardly recognizable and sporadic, and autumn scarce. After years of wondering what each season would bring, and shoveling snow for months, sometimes on a daily basis, I decided to move south. This move, as I expected, has changed my overall life for the better in a number of ways, not the least of which is due to the affable climate.

Summer has a feel of intense heat, and brings with it lots of sunshine. Sunshine, let’s face it- makes most of us have a better day. Summer is a time to explore, move, relish being outside in the warm evenings.        

Spring arrives here earlier than in the northeast, and welcomes summer with a dazzling show of color and grace. Spring makes me feel like starting projects, enjoying being out of doors, awakening to possibilities. Spring renews my energy.   

Autumn is brisk, invigorating, and ripe with deep color. Autumn gently envelopes with cooler temperatures and whispers of what is to come.     

Winter was like death to me. Piercingly cold with dark mornings and very short days. All I wanted was to escape into warmth and I succumbed to hybernating unless forced to do otherwise. I no longer fear or hate winter. It is less bitter and overwhelming in the south, and its visit is shorter. The wintery feel here is one of a natural resting time for plants, trees, and living creatures alike. It is the single most necessary and stark change for me when considering climate.

Whatever the “feel” of each season is for you, it is my hope that you are as fortunate as I, in that where you live is also a place you love. It is hugely important. Whatever the feel of each season is for you, go where it feels best. When you do, believe me, quality of life increases profoundly; it is a true awakening of spirit. It is freeing. It is how life is supposed to be.

I believe a special love can exist. It begins any number of ways; an introduction through a friend, a colleague at work, two who have exchanged glances across a room or through time. The connection is electric and exciting; the conversation is sharp and the attraction never ends.

Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Niemi appeared to have a kind of love that reigned over life's issues; A love that was deep and soulful. I am sure they had their tough times, the toughest of which was, no doubt, Patrick's fight with and ultimate death from cancer. His fans and the entertainment industry in general are hugely saddened. Patrick entertained us with his wonderful dance moves; sexy and bold. My favorite of his movies is Ghost, with Demi Moore. His character was sensitive, loving, and I for one wanted to go through the screen and give him a big kiss. He had that affect on many of us.

A friend of mine posted the video of a dance Patrick and Lisa did back in 94, on Facebook today. At first I wasn't so sure I wanted to see it. We are saturated with such things when celebrities die, are arrested for whatever, and/or any number of things us normal people do every day without recognition. But I did view it, and I'm happy I did. This dance, posted as a salute to Whitney Houston, is without a doubt one of the sexiest, seductive and thoroughly loving dances I have ever witnessed. The way they fold themselves around each other is emotional and intimate. I could feel their connection and closeness through this dance. Watching them brought tears to my eyes.

I can only imagine what Lisa must be feeling now. It is too sad and the end is much too early. My heart goes out to her. The wonderful memories of a long, deep love will hopefully help her through. Many of us are striving for such a deep connection; she lived it. What a wonderful dance it must have been.

Check it out at: Patrick Swayze & Wife Dancing At World Music Awards 1994

I know what you're thinking..This is some new and kinky love-making technique, or surely you've discovered another woman gone off the deep end. Well, I would be the latter, although the former isn't a bad thing.

A Blog--Who could predict this wonderful way of communicating would be an awakening of a love of mine, long hiding within? I don't even know where the term came from (although, now I'll look that up), and it isn't particularly important. What is important - to me - is that now I have an opportunity and a vehicle to write as much as I want, the way I want, and I am discovering that satisfying my passion to write touches my soul with a huge happy pill. It makes me smile to write what is in my head and I am grateful for friends and family who will read my thoughts, and offer me support.

This is a time in my life where I know, every day, I am extremely fortunate. I have not always felt this way. But, through a process of truly understanding where I need to be and putting steps in place to make that happen, I now have time to explore and to make changes; all of which are happily toward where I know my life should be. I am extremely fortunate for this time, and I am seeing the positive progress within my life for it.

My exploration is actually bringing me back to my core; Back to the core of that child who loved to write and loved to decorate and felt a deep sense of accomplishment in making spaces look clean and inviting. Along the way, I safely hid at least some of those large parts of me as I made another life. That other life, by the way, was fine. Within that life, I was self-sufficient, realized accomplishments, and met wonderful people. It's just that, THAT life was not exactly who I was or am.

So, now I get to be ME! Strangely, it is a scary, wonderful, exciting, tentative unfolding for me. Ever seen one of those videos showing a flower opening to the sun in slow motion? I want to say, "I'm a writer!" And, now I believe I will!

A few months ago, I adopted a beautiful white cat. She was found, along with her three kittens, somewhere in some prison yard. A friend of my son is kind enough, along with his wife, to provide "foster" care to animals in need. Through him, I found Cleo, and my son found his new kitty, Frankie.

Cleo is a love and she is smart. She has a docile personality, except when she is chasing my older cat, Alex, or jumping at something only she can see. She is just now becoming comfortable with allowing me to approach her, on her terms of course, for a little sniff and maybe - just maybe - a bit of a loving pat. She understands the word, No - or maybe it's my tone.

Cleo has not purred yet in the time she has lived with me. She is the first cat that has not made that sound of contentment and peace, of the several I have had over many years. I attribute that fact, since she cannot share her story, to her likely difficult start in her 1 1/2 years. She did not come to me with a sense of abuse or neglect, however, she had also been in the foster care of those kind people for a few months. She has reason to purr; she has found "her" spot in my home, she seems to like to be resting somewhat close by when I am at my desk, and she understands, very well, that many trips to the kitchen will result in a bit of milk in her bowl. But, no purr.

My thought is that, in time, she will not only purr, but become a "lap cat". I can tell she wants to; she gingerly climbs near me as I sit on the sofa. She takes a quick look at what I might be doing, then she's off to her comfort zone. I believe, with continued love, gentle tone, and of course, a continuing supply of food and milk, that Cleo will be a most loving cat, complete with that little motor running. After all, most living creatures will respond to kindness and love, even if it takes a while to trust that those things are really for them, and are a constant in their lives.