…or, if it’s not a banana, it certainly looked like one when I stepped out on my balcony Saturday morning before the sun came up. Why up so early, you might well ask? Well, we were blessed with a tremendous DROP in temperature this weekend and I was out there in my nightgown reveling in the cool, almost cold breeze! I almost felt like waltzing around like some chick in a movie, I was so giddy. My city broke record lows, with nights in the fifties and it has been glorious!
I’ve told you all how much I’ve been suffering with the horrible humidity we’ve been experiencing this summer, so this sudden “cold spell” has been a delightful surprise. Even though I know that it is just a temporary reprieve, it has revived my spirits and fueled my sense of gratitude.
One of the things I’m grateful for is my neighbor’s (Mr. Manboobs) flowers. The latest things to bloom have been these gigantic red flowers like this one. 
(I’m about as good with flower names as I am with bird names, so for now, it’s just a Big Red flower!) While I’m at it, let me say a word or two about Mr. Manboobs, because he’s the kind of neighbor one is grateful to have. He bothers no one, just goes about his business and has pride in his property. He lives behind me, and we’ve never been formally introduced, so most of what I know is what I’ve surmised through observation. He’s a man in his fifties, I’d guess, who, when he’s out doing errands dresses very properly in slacks and a polo shirt. He always seems very serious and walks ramrod straight in short, hurried steps. He sort of reminds me of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. But, when he’s at home, oh how he loves his flowers! He hurries from one garden plot to the next, like a little bee, pollinating blooms. And when he works in the garden, this shy little man wears shorts, white socks and black shoes and no shirt! This is how he earned his nickname because he indeed has quite a set of man boobs on him. And no, I’m not laughing at him…much. As a matter of fact, I find him endearing in his own little way. And I do appreciate all the beautiful things he can grow.
There’s just something about the days with NO HUMIDITY and cool temperatures which magnifies my sense of joy and well-being. I had lunch with my friend Dee on Friday and after lunch we sat out on a bench in a cemetery and talked non-stop for two hours! Do you know how cool that is? A friendship like that, I can’t help but be grateful for. Dee is a friend I used to work with and whom I’ve known for twenty-six years. And still, we never run out of things to talk about! She’s the kind of friend with whom I can exhale, knowing I never have to walk on eggshells or worry about being judged. We have very different views on some things and yet, instead of that being divisive, it seems to add a richness to our bond. Time spent with her is like a gift. And I think (and hope) she feels the same way about me.
Okay, I realize I’ve just written a whole post on how happy and grateful I’ve been for just a few cool days, but it has honestly meant that much to me. The coming week will probably bring warmer temperatures and the dreaded humidity. But now, that I’ve had a wee taste of Fall, I think I can hold on.
It was exactly the kind of sophisticated design that appeals to me! As traitorous as it sounds at this time of year, I’ve never been much of a poinsettia kind of person. In fact, I find them kind of boring. But this! This was lovely and I was touched. I couldn’t wait to find the card, rip it open and discover who had sent me this lovely gift. I opened the tiny envelope to find this message:
