TODAY IS THE DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN

Today is October 30, 2107 and here as in maybe your country, tomorrow is Halloween which doesn't seem possible but it will be. As a kid  I loved this holiday as it meant dressing up as someone else, being able to go trick or treating in areas that I knew and with friends my own age, Adults with us? Never.

It was a time of being safe, being a free range kid and getting loads of candy--which also was safe, AND it was a time of magic--magic filled the air every single Halloween Day. Granted there were times I didn't like my then-boxed costume and many times I'd change it myself much to my mom's disdain.

About the age of eleven, I quit going out on Halloween to trick or treat because I had gotten tall and felt sort of dumb thinking about wearing a costume.

Looking back at how things were on Halloween or prior, no one decorated their houses with a gazillion lights, fake bats or yard decorations---all anyone had outside was a real pumpkin. Just one pumpkin.

And no one decorated the inside of their houses then: It just wasn't done at all.

And look at how things are in today's world for kids. It isn't safe for them to go out on Halloween to trick or treat at all and if they do,adults are with them. No one can or should trust any unknown houses or area for danger is too prevalent now. The good thing is that many churches, malls or neighborhoods have parties for kids and that's safe if they live in that area.

Decorating? Decorating for Halloween is a multi-million dollar business for too many people feel that they have to illuminate every single thing inside and outside plus add a ton of decorations. And that's fine if people want to do it although it's costly and runs up a giant electric bill --that's the downside. Yes, I have a pumpkin outside and some fall things but this year I stopped at just that for in the past, it was too much trouble taking it all down and putting it up. Age? Maybe but maybe I  didn't want to to into overload.

Whatever is your choice is fine. And I'm wishing you a Happy Halloween tomorrow and may it be safe and happy--most of all, enjoy it!

Sherry Hill

© Copyright 2017

All Rights Reserved

AN ACT OF KINDNESS WAS PAID BACK BY ANOTHER

This past Friday I stopped by a car wash as I had promised a man that I would give him a yearbook—not mine but one I bought at a thrift store three years ago. My reason for buying it in the first place was that it didn’t cost much at all and second, someone might need it. My stopping came from a prior conversation for I thought he had been a past student of mine but found out he had grown up in a different area here –that’s when I told him about the yearbook and said I’d gladly give it to him.

He had done a fantastic job washing and cleaning my car and I said I’d gladly bring it to him on Wednesday. Wednesday came and went as did Thursday but Friday, I grabbed the yearbook on my way out and headed for the car wash; as I approached, he saw my car and I pulled in and handed him the yearbook.

He was thrilled beyond words because he had not gotten his own for his senior year, and I was thrilled for him to have that yearbook. I told him I didn’t want any thanks: Fate had done its job. Off I went headed for the grocery store smiling at what had just taken place.

As usual, the store parking lot was full which meant my driving around and around to find a parking place which I finally did and walked inside the store. On my mind were three things to buy but as it happens, I had my grocery cart loaded with this and that; found a lane open that had one person in front of me and it wasn’t long before the cashier was checking me out.

I asked if there was anyone bagging groceries and the clerk said that there wasn’t anyone when all of a sudden a tall man with an orange shirt came up to where the groceries were ready to be bagged and started bagging them for me. Again I asked another question and that was “Does he work here?” The clerk replied “I’ve never seen him in my life and no, he doesn’t.” That man was all business as he put my groceries carefully into bags and said “There you are; all done!” I looked at him and not only thanked him but told him he was an angel. “Not really” he replied but I came back saying “Oh yes you are.”

What a wonderful thing for a stranger to do that for someone and that someone was a grateful me. On the way to the car, I thought about the two things that had happened that afternoon: I gave someone a gift because I simply wanted to do it, and in return, a stranger gave me the ultimate gift of help and kindness. There aren’t many days like that but when they occur take time to realize how rare and wonderful they are.  Kind human nature does exist even if the world is haywire—in fact, it happens more than you’d think and I saw it that day: I was a giver and a receiver and three people were happy.

Sherry Hill

© Sherry Hill

Copyright 2017

All Rights Reserved

*Photo from Microsoft Word

MY LATEST AMAZON KINDLE E BOOK

This is my 15th Amazon Kindle E book "Edna and The Lobsters." 

Should you have time, I would be so appreciative if you decide to read it--it's a true story.

Thanks much.

https://www.amazon.com/EDNA-LOBSTERS-Sherry-Hill-ebook/dp/B0727LDWZR/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1509086226&sr=1-1&keywords=Edna+and+the+Lobsters+by+Sherry+Hill

Sherry Hill

IT'S FALL HERE BUT REALLY?

It's fall here and that's my favorite season but does it feel like fall temperature-wise? It's cold here tonight and was quite chilly yesterday but the leaves on the trees have barely changed their colors which is odd for this time of the year. We had an onslaught of warm weather for several weeks and the forsythia decided to bloom again--even the flowers are confused for they are budding.

My yard is full of crunchy brown leaves and yet it looks as if most of the leaves on the silver maple are still green and so where did they come from? I can only guess that the gusty winds we've been having have blown a ton of leaves in my yard for there are many from different trees that are not mine.

I find "sweet gum" leaves constantly in the yard:  They're easy to identify for they look like a star shape. There is a ginkgo tree in my backyard but its leaves haven't turned that glorious yellowish-green yet: They're still green. And all of this is odd for this time of October--at least where I live for normally the hills are ablaze with vivid colors. Acorns are in abundance this fall--in fact I have never seen so many since I've lived in my house which has been a long time.

It's impossible to walk out in the street without stepping on acorns: Normally the squirrels hoard them and maybe they are and can't keep up with the overload of them. I thought that was a sign of a bad winter ahead, but last year there were many acorns but not like now. The street is brown from where cars have run over the acorns and I just look at it. Could I sweep them to the side? That's a possibility but I'd rather not sweep forty feet of street or more, and really who would want to do that anyway?

The wonderful smell of fall is in the air and that is a smell that evokes memories of past falls and all of the events that happened long ago. Smells can trigger memories in a heart beat as you well know. But I wonder if I will be looking at bare trees and a gazillion old brown leaves in my yard for it seems that way: The yearly color changing of them has been a long drawn out process.

Oh trust me it's fall here all right, but November is approaching quickly and with that comes snow on the heels of fall and so again I say "It's fall here but really?" No sign of glorious leaf changing color but just slight fading but I will savor fall's smell and its remnants.

Sherry Hill
© Copyright 2017
All Rights Reserved

*Photo from Microsoft Word