Petals

"Irises come forth like the belles of the day..." -- Thomas Jefferson The weekly tasks of deadlines, meetings, and phone calls were already becoming wearisome in this young year. Such routines were seeming too repetitive. Catharine suggested that I consider moving past my apparent discomfort with the daily known, and briefly walk away from work. I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood... my childhood growing grounds, largely spared from the mansionization on the hills.

?Because it?s there.? ? George Mallory ?I?d love to turn you on.? ? The Beatles ? From my deck, Laguna beckoned just slightly beyond... a woodsy village, silhouetted by a brilliant, blue autumn sky. Finches, eager to find sanctuary and nourishment, follow a cool breeze past me. The smell of a freshly mown lawn triggered past memories, which only heightened my anticipation. I fitted on my gloves and hat as I entered our garden. My eyes, trained by years of staring incredulously at story poles, scanned the landscape.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."? Jane Austen, opening lines to Pride and Prejudice. "The rose is a rose, And was always a rose." ? Robert Frost Conventional wisdom generally acknowledges that a single man or woman may consider a mate after a due course of time. Such thinking doesn't always apply... nevertheless, many opt for a relationship, either because we have become smitten or been persuaded that it is no longer fashionable to be a permanent public temptation.

Steve Kawaratani "Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day ... " -- Anne Morrow Lindbergh "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." -- Willie Nelson The pace has quickened in Laguna, perhaps the longer shadows of autumn have made the days appear more crowded. It is indeed a political season, with placards cluttering gardens and the City Council overturning unanimous Design Review Board decisions.

"Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day … " – Anne Morrow Lindbergh "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." – Willie Nelson The pace has quickened in Laguna. Perhaps the longer shadows of August have made the days appear more crowded. It is indeed a political season of intrigue, with an incumbent withdrawing, firemen protesting, and property rights often lost in a sea of neighbor concern.

"A new year is unfolding — like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within." — Anonymous "A happy New Year to all the world!" — Charles Dickens The last week of the year has found me wondering where this year went. Of course, I muse about this every year — just as my father and his father did as well. Catharine surmises it's a family preoccupation. With a great deal of certainty, however, I anticipate next year will not be any shorter in duration.

"Everything is blooming most recklessly …" -- Ranier Maria Rilke "You know it's an election year when the placards outnumber the flowers." -- Catharine Cooper October is coming to a close. The turning of leaves and cool overnight temperatures hint we are in the midst of autumn. Summer-like days have ensured that many flowering perennials are at the peak of their floral displays. Bringing flowers indoors is a simple pleasure for many, particularly my wife Catharine when she is home.

"Imagine ... if you can ... " John Lennon "Irises come forth like the belles of the day ... " Thomas Jefferson The daily challenge of maintaining familial and business relationships had become wearisome. As had the never-ending conspiracy theories concerning development in Laguna. Awareness had become exhausting. Catharine suggested that I take a break, forget about others' naked self-interest and focus on myself. I opted for a neighborhood walk and found myself drifting toward the beach.