The nor’easter is almost done. It is not raining now, and the wind has become a breeze. The sun has returned, and it is warm at 67°. Mother Nature has had her fun. We’re left with light rain and maybe a drizzle; however, the flood warnings do continue for tonight and tomorrow. The waves today could get as high as 17 feet. The wind tomorrow will only be 5 miles MPH, probably having worn itself out from all that blowing. It feels a bit like the end of a sci-fi movie about nature having decimated much of the Earth. The survivors have come out of hiding to find a ruined world, but the sun will shine again. My neighbors are on their deck. They are Jamaican. I can hear singing and conversing in Patois. She’ll cook later, and with the deck doors open I’ll be tantalized by the aroma of her food cooking. I can hear birds. The dogs are out despite this being their morning nap time.

When I was a kid, this was just about my favorite time of year. I loved the mornings. I loved walking to school and watching the leaves change color. The afternoons were still warm enough for playing outside. Halloween, a highlight of the season, was on the horizon. I remember lamenting, though I didn’t realize that was what I was doing, that the afternoons were getting shorter and shorter. It seemed as if we were outside for only a minute before the street lights came on, and every mother yelled out the door at what seemed like the same time. All of a sudden the yards and streets were empty.

The only person I knew who had been to Europe was my father, compliments of the navy during World War II. During one of our trips to Europe we went looking for places he had been. He didn’t remember much. He was only 17 when he went into the navy. He remembered Plymouth, England the most as he had been hospitalized there for quite a while after his ship had been sunk. On another trip, the one where my sister had joined us, we followed the World War II trail through Belgium and stayed in Bastogne. He was thrilled. He kept up a running commentary. Every time we passed Malmedy he spoke about the massacre. He wanted a picture of tank traps we coud see in the woods so I got sent. Little did we know how muddy it was. I got stuck in the mud, and when I pulled out my feet, my shoes stayed. I carried them to the car.

I vacuumed upstairs as soon as I woke up. I was tired of the dust balls in my bedroom, the bathroom and the hall. After I had vacuumed the hall rug, I was surprised to see it was plaid. I have a couple of chores more, but because of my leg, I can’t haul bags and filled litter boxes to the car for the dump. That stays on my to do list until at least Thursday. I can see a lazy late afternoon on my list.

The day is dark. The nor’easter is already underway with a high wind warning which continues through Sunday. Right now we have gusts up to 26 miles per hour but gusts up to 60 miles per hour are predicted. Even the biggest, the topmost branches are bending. The leaves are curling. The rain should begin around one and will dump around three inches of rain through Sunday. Saturday alone will get an inch. I need to get a few things at the store. I expect the stores to be crowded just as they are before giant snowstorms or hurricane predictions so I may wait until the rain starts hoping that will keep the less intrepid indoors.

Henry will go out in the rain, but Nala will look out the door then back into the kitchen. None of my boxers have been lovers of rain. Now I wish I had put the storms in the door so I could leave the inside doors open. The dogs and I love to watch the rain.

The morning has been a good one. The coffee was delicious. I get my coffee from Atlas Coffee so it comes from a different place each month. I am now enjoying coffee from Guatemala. I ran out of light cream, but I still have vanilla ice cream I am using instead. It is so delicious I find myself drinking more coffee than usual. My sister gave me some lemon curd, just about my favorite way to eat lemons. This morning I put it on my toast. It was sweet and tasty. Both were a glorious way to start the day. Next, I finished all three puzzles in the newspaper. I felt triumphant.

My upstairs is in dire need of attention. My bedroom has clumps of dust and fur everywhere. The surfaces need to be dusted or polished. The bed needs changing. I have bags of laundry. I find my inner sloth has total control.

When I was a kid, my favorite place to spend a rainy afternoon was in my bedroom nestled under the covers. One window was close to the foot of my bed, and I’d watch the rain hit that window and roll down the panes. I’d have my over the headboard light on and I’d spend the afternoon reading. My room was always quiet, but I could hear the TV playing in the living room. My mother would be in the kitchen making supper. I could smell the food cooking. I’d stay reading until my mother called me down to supper. She’d fill my plate, hand it to me, and I’d sit at the table and eat. She didn’t sit with us, but she’d often stand at the counter to eat. I’d watch TV until bedtime then I’d read until my mother yelled up the stairs for me to turn off the light and go to sleep. Joys of life stay with us. I find it amazing that even now on rainy days I love to nestle under the covers and read.