November is here

Favorite tree

I've been walking by this tree almost daily ever since the YMCA closed down during the pandemic and I switched to getting in a three-mile walk most days. The Y opened again last year, but without my favorite hi-lo aerobics class, and they just let the instructor go after decades of service. She's still not over it, I hear, and I can't really blame her.

Anyway, they never reopened the women's locker room, and my locker still sits there with much of my workout clothes that I left there so I wouldn't have to carry them back and forth. I went there once to take out a few things, but I had to be accompanied by a worker in order to even open it. I gave up, hoping it wouldn't be too long before I could get back to the gym, but here it is three years later and it's not looking promising.

About that tree: I had been looking for signs of its leaves turning in the fashion of past years, a little at a time. But day after day, nothing had even begun to change. Until yesterday, when I walked by the tree to see it aflame! It was a rainy and overcast day, but nothing kept me from seeing the beautiful tree in its fall glory.

We received well over two inches of rain during the atmospheric river, but today is dry and even showing some sun in between the clouds. Oh, and I found out that what I thought was a raincoat is nothing of the sort, and I got home yesterday soaking wet everywhere, except my feet (my shoes are definitely waterproof). It wasn't all that cold, but that's coming very soon. 

Today I hauled out the carry-on bag I'll be using for my trip, which is now only three weeks away. I measured it to make sure it meets the new carry-on standards. By this time next month, I'll be on my return journey, if all goes as planned. Nothing is ever certain these days, especially when thinking about airplane travel. It's hard for me to imagine that I once had little to no problem flying anywhere, or even jumping out of airplanes for decades, but now I'm just a little old lady not anxious to leave home.

Last night I dreamed I was in Florida with all my siblings, and it was chaotic. I kept trying to find a bathroom that wasn't occupied, or somewhere to sleep comfortably. Perhaps I'll get all those jitters out of the way before I actually travel there. (The sun just came out in full force, and it brought a smile to my face. Florida should have lots of sun, right?) Fortunately I will not have to take many changes of clothes, since my sister and I are the same size and I'll be using her stuff mostly, which is good since I don't have much to wear for warm weather. The trip is getting closer by the minute!

:-)