Sounds that make me happy

Sitting in the car for long hours, I listen to a lot of music. And sometimes I listen to nothing. Sometimes the voices in my head are too loud to hear anything but them (not in a mentally ill kind of way...just normal, healthy voice).

Dylan asked me once last year,

"What sound do you love?"

I had never really thought of this question before, but it stuck with me and while I answered it then I pay attention even more now. I listen more and I like that.

So here are a few:

The crackle made by pebbles on the shoreline. Water rushes in and crackles out with the tides. This is a predominantly west coast experience.
Ginger shrieking “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE” whenever I walked in the door. So shrill it could hurt your ear drums, yet so energy packed it was always hard not to laugh.

Leaves rustling underfoot partnered with bright colors creating warmth despite the crisp air.

Babies laughing. Especially when whatever they are laughing at is just not that funny.
Dylan playing the guitar in his own little world totally unaware that I snuck in the door. Amp that up with a fire in the backyard.

My puppy (a fully grown 80 pound “puppy”) sniffing my neck right before going in for the kiss attack. Almost crying…snorting in my ear. So wound up and eager to get out and play.

The swooshing sound of a snowboard on fresh trails…like listening to waves. Gently carving toward and then away from Dylan as he patiently mirrors my line.Songs that have found the secret to time travel, quickly transporting you to another place.

Just to name a few, but no where near the end of the list.

Blustery

I spent last weekend in Spokane and I was shocked by the cold! Yikes! I was not ready for 20 degrees while we set up in the shade. Sans gloves and forgotten hat. Not to mention the boy scouts that were parked up next to us outside REI selling their popcorn...they were prepared. Damn mottos.

I returned to Portland with visions of last week dancing through my head. Blue skies, perfect temperatures, sunshine for days. Sunshine? Where did it go? What happened to summer?

I am in never-ending denial that this year will slow down any minute now! Surely...it has to! Unready and unwilling I have been dragged into fall. How could this happen? I want to go back!

But then I remember...I like fall. I think I spent too much time in Florida and learned to ignore this amazing time of year. Palm trees don't change. But the maples and the oak and the aspens, they most certainly do. And it is beautiful.

Yesterday felt like a holiday. A vacation day spent at home reminded me of so many other things I love about the fall.

Snuggling into a warm, fluffy bed (but not down fluffy. Synthetic fluffy. I recently learned those birds aren't plucked...they are killed! How naive am I?)

The crazy wind creating little twisters of red and yellow leaves.

Delicious mulled wine with friends in a comfortable candle-lit restaurant.

Cooking breakfast at noon and brownies at nine. Both hearty and warm!

Sweaters. Big comfy sweaters.

The crisp, clean air. You can almost smell the breeze.

Movies in bed and more snuggling. (If you have not seen Triplets of Belleville you should)

Oh...and galoshes. Mine are worn straight through. Too much dancing in the rain and puddle splashing last year.

SO it's fall. It's time to be excited and let the summer go. It will come back again. Always does.