Autumn is right around the corner and summer has become an old story.  Lucky for me, it's a great old story, having had one of the best summers I can remember in years.  I spent time with friends and family, visited lots of interesting places, and now I expect autumn to be just as memorable.  It takes effort to make memories!

I've become very aware of porches recently because I'm driving a new route to work. Yesterday, Bach was playing on the stereo - some lively song reminding me of a large family quarreling at the dinner table.  I could hear the deep cello voices of the men (who are probably Republicans) debating with the high violin voices of the women (who are probably Democrats), until a booming voice of reason told them all they could go outside if they wanted to fight.  Well, that's what it sounded like to me, anyway.  That, mixed with the darling neighborhoods I saw, made me very light-hearted.

I have a birthday coming up at the end of September.  It's not one of those big ones.  It's just an ordinary old birthday. But since the late love of my life isn't around anymore to help me celebrate,  I have to take matters into my own hands.  Oh, he liked to host parties! My friend Monica always says I can't make coffee like he could - but since then I've learned to put some love into it. 

I found that if I buy myself a nice little cake (white cake with white frosting), get a posy of flowers, brew a stout cup of coffee with plenty of love in it and real heavy whipping cream, and sit and count my blessings - that's a celebration.

This year, I thought I would put a couple of requests out there into the vast Universe and wait to see what happens.  I've read that it's important to have a desire as long as we make a point of serving others and trying to do the right thing.

 It can be delicious to long for something.  Sometimes you get what you want, and sometimes you don't. And sometimes you get more than you hoped for. 

This year, I'm asking the Universe for an afternoon on a porch somewhere in beautiful Minnesota, where can I eat chocolate chip cookies and talk smart.  I can provide the cookies and the talk.  But I'm not going to stop there with my birthday wish!  Oh no.  I'm also going to ask the Universe for a round-trip ticket to England to visit my dear friend, Penny, next March.  They have really old porches over there.

I know it's a tall order, but there it is.  How do you like me now?