Despite the anxiety produced in other parts of the country by the passage of Hurricane Irene, this past week featured the best weather of the season for our region. After a scorcher of a summer, we managed warm days and cool nights, my personal perfect weather. It was actually odd not to hear the whirring noise of a fan somewhere in the background! In the week following a manuscript submission, I’m usually ready to pounce right on the next wip. But this one, I just decided to enjoy. Loved it. Huge sigh of relief.

I also had my first sighting of migrating monarch butterflies. These gorgeous creatures with the translucent red-gold wings framed in black velvet sailed over my head more than once on their way to spend the winter in Mexico. But as nice as the weather is, and as lovely their flight, it all brings a vague sense of sadness with it all. Summer is gliding quickly by. Another season passing, and I feel like I barely got a taste!

Still, I love autumn. Good thing, too, because I can’t head south with the butterflies. So, I’m gonna hang onto it as long as possible, and not think about what’s to come (shiver) once it, too, sails on.