It'll Look Better in the Morning

The sun peeks through periodically. We've had a lot of rain -- about 8" so far this month (according the the rain gauge in my yard) -- and the sun is a welcome, if not elusive, sight. It's interesting to me that even during the day the sun can better one's perspective.

When I was a girl, my mom always cautioned me when I was upset or began fretting about things at night. She maintained that everything would seem better in daylight. And she's right, at least from my point of view. Darkness limits my perspective and I tend to think in flat dimension at night. The morning brings clarity and additional vision - both literally and figuratively. And then when the sun shines, it's even better.

I'm trying to think of all the songs that agree with me -- "Let the Sunshine" (5th Dimension), "Sunshine on my Shoulder" (John Denver), "Ain't No Sunshine" (Jose Feliciano). Can you think of any? Do you have any thoughts on this subject?

I've been writing a lot about my roses and the evil, evil rabbits. Here are three photos.
Yellow David Austin Rose

Evil, evil vermin cute and cuddly Bunny nibbling outside his home--our steps!

Knockout Rose in Full Flush -- this photo does not do it justice

And finally, have a silly weekend!!!

Cold Nights

The football team at the high school where I taught English and from which my children graduated made it to the state championship. They played last night at M & T Stadium (home of the Baltimore Ravens). I went because I'm still part of the Wilde Lake community, and to show my support for the kids and for their coach who will retire soon after 32 years of coaching and over 300 wins.
The weather was miserable: not quite cold enough for snow, but cold enough for the rain to feel like ice against our faces. I thought I had dressed warmly enough--lots of layers, but soon was "amazed" at how that cold rain could soak through everything: my flannel-lined rain jacket with hood, my gloves, shoes, socks, and most of my layers. We stayed until the end of the fourth quarter (they were losing 13-0) when the cold just got too much. I needed to be dry and warm. (Just sitting here writing about this caused me to get up and change into a sweat suit and heavy socks!) (I guess this is where I should mention that I am NEVER cold. Just ask my daughters and daughter-in-law who when they visit even in August must don parkas because of the temperature at which I'm comfortable. Ask my husband who suffers through my sleeping beside an open window all winter.)
What a pleasure it was to slip between flannel sheets into our nest of a bed. Normally, this means instant warmth, but two hours later I was still freezing, chilled to the proverbial bone, and so we put yet another blanket on the bed. Only then did I begin to feel comfortable. It occurred to me that many cannot come in from the cold or feel any relief from the elements, and I cannot imagine, even as cold as I was, what having no anticipated relief feels like.
Every Christmas my husband gives gifts to all of his clients. We think long and hard in choosing something appropriate and meaningful. This year, he will be writing each client a letter wishing them blessings for this holiday season and explaining that his gift to them is a donation to the Little Sisters of the Poor in Baltimore. http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=23
These nuns take their own vows of poverty very seriously in caring for the poorest in our society. Hopefully, through them, we can make someone's night a little warmer.