A Little Light...

It has been a rough week around here--honestly--it has been a rough month! I cannot wait for the clock to strike 12 tonight so October can be over already. But this week has been particularly depressing, at least I've been feeling down in the dumps. My downer has been primarily caused by hormones but definitely fueled by piles of laundry, piles of papers, piles of dishes and piles of library books. I needed a pick-me-up and boy, oh boy did I ever get one.

Lorien and Clare went down to get the mail on Thursday and there was a package! Getting a package in the mail is exciting stuff for anyone, anytime. It just makes you feel good all over--even if it is something you ordered online and were expecting. This package was a surprise for me from my sister, Jennifer. My three sisters (and Mom) live in Maine about 30 miles from each other. It is the pits to be over 2,000 miles away. Not only are all of my sisters (and my Mom) basking in each other's glorious company--they are also soaking up autumn in New England (the lucky-ducks).

Thoughtfully, Jennifer packed a box with six Macintosh apples, some chocolates, a warm sweater and shirt, a milk weed pod (that hadn't opened yet) a little pumpkin, a cinnamon scented candle and a bunch of fall leaves.

It was heaven in a card board box.

It made me cry--tears of joy. (Especially seeing all those leaves.)

There I was, with my kids crowding around, tears streaming down my face pulling out happy fall item after happy fall item. The kids couldn't figure out why I was crying so much.

I tore into one of the apples and only let my kids have one bite each--telling them: "This is the best apple you'll ever eat." No other state can touch a Mackintosh apple. Maine might like to think their potatoes are pretty good but who cares about potatoes when you can grow Mackintosh apples? And these apples came straight from the orchard--not a numbered produce sticker in sight.

I lit the candle for the kids and proceeded to pour over the news paper Jennifer had used to stuff around the leaves and pumpkin. It was just the sports page but it warmed my heart to read about University Maine Women's Basketball coach, Cindy Blodgett and see an advertisement for Dunkin Donuts, I cried a little bit more.

Later that night while I was cleaning up I found one of the paper towels the apples had been wrapped in. My nose was running so I wiped up the snot but had to stop blowing my nose because the paper towel smelled like the apples. I just stood there--huffing apple scent--and cried a little bit more.

Thanks Jennifer! I miss you, Camie, Lesley and Mom heaps and piles and loads. Thanks for making my day a little lighter!