This is a slightly modififed/edited version of a piece I wrote for the Quilcene Community Center's monthly newsletter. I'm still not sure how one gets the newsletter in one's e-mail, and I would like a few more readers to get the opportunity to read my stuff. It's not JUST ego. 

It’s a crazy time of the year; and not just because I’m a housepainter with promises made and we’ve passed Labor Day, and, and, any day now… Winter is coming!

Try not to panic. I’m trying. The truth is winter’s not here yet. Yet. It really hasn’t rained much. Yet. The Snowbirds are mostly still here; mostly because wherever they want to migrate to is probably still too hot or under threat from hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, and fires. The weather is still what we call ‘temperate,’ the days are getting shorter but, it’s not like we’re already into Standard Time.

Not yet. Still, most of us full-timers have to be hoping this October isn’t like last October. It was like a regular November (statistically the rainiest month in the Great Northwest). And then November was like, yeah, it was like a regular November. And December…and February was still cold, April and May rainy.

We can’t help but blame some of last year’s coldness on Canada. Yes, the same northeast winds that brought us the heat this summer (maybe you enjoyed it), along with the smoke from their (well, some were American) forest fires (nobody seemed to be enjoying the smog- too easy for Californian visitors to say, ‘See?’) are, TV weather people tell us, the same winds that brought us bone-chilling cold last winter.

Most fingers point to the Frasier River Valley. Canada. Yes, some of the smoke came from Vancouver Island (still Canada) with northwest winds. No, I’m not discounting the south winds that also brought us some American smoke.

Hey, it’s still pretty warm. I’m still wearing short sleeves, short pants; we’ve only run one heater a few times; we JUST put away the window air conditioner. I NEED a lovely October; leaves changing color, falling; hunters out and… I’m not really sure about hunting and fishing seasons; pretty sure they’re about now; I do know it’s approaching surf season on the Strait of Juan de Fuca- maybe more exciting for me than for you. There are still opportunities for the weekend motorcyclists to do ‘the loop,’ still some good weather for all those folks going up and down 101 with bikes and kayaks and boats and ATVs.

Exactly half the year is Spring, with the (usually delayed) promise of long days of Summer warmth; or Autumn, with the threat of long nights of winter cold and dreariness.  

SO, here’s hoping we have a bit of what was once referred to as an ‘Indian Summer.’ I say once because someone pointed out to me it’s a bit of a racist(ish) term. “What?” “Kind of like promises made, then not delivered upon.” “You mean like politicians do.” “I guess so.”

No, I never thought of Indian Summer that way, either. What I do know is there are plenty of decent days to get work done, and some crappy days to stay inside, maybe meditate, contemplate life and its seasons… yeah, yeah; right now it’s not raining and I have to get to work.

UPDATE: long pants, it has rained, is raining; but still hopeful. And no, if you see me around town, it’s not a painting ‘costume’.