Things that are fall.

Boston.
Apples.
Orchards.
Back to school.
Pumpkin pie.
Squash.
Red leaves.
Orange leaves.
Yellow leaves.

Crunch of acorns under foot.

Eating soup again.
Drinking tea again.
Crisp air.
Jack-o-lanterns.

Halloween.

Trick-or-treating.

Caramel apples.
Tallest Man On Earth.

Shorter days.
Longer nights.
Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving.
Turkey.Tofurky.
This picture (drawn by Meggie in Sac. Meeting when we were 19ish):

Small and simple things for which I am really grateful, part II.

As motivated by Joseph B. Wirthlin's sound advice

Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don’t have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe, or the sound of a loved one’s voice. Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm. It helps us get outside ourselves. It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in.

• H & P's hospitality (i.e., that I have a place to lay my head and a Volvo to drive, among other things).
• Mint brownies that come in the mailbox. (Thank you, Kaci.)
• Acceptance letters that come in the mailbox. (Thank you, Claremont.)
• Discovering my town possesses a serve yourself frozen yogurt place.
• Blue skies/sunny days.
• Strolls with and without strollers.
• The fall air.
• Community.
• Glee.
• The length of my hair.
• Cartoons and/or children's books while Henry cuddles on my lap.
• Holding Jags as she falls asleep.
• Soup season.
• Tea season (particularly blueberry and raspberry).
• Blankets.
• A visit from my mama. 
• Persian feasts.
• Neko Case, Rilo Kiley, Morgan Handley, The Glendale Rabashaw, etc.
• Occasional skype chats with my favorite Baratta sisters.
• Getting into a sun warmed car.
• That 50 degrees feels cold.
• Mosiah 26:30.
• Barnes & Noble.

(Part I: the 2009 version)

The most beautiful thing/ode/poem that has been written for me.

Written in a g-mail chat sometime in September, after discussing GRE studying and my fear of math. It is the one thing that has brought joy to me in my efforts to tackle that portion. As I take the test on Monday, this has become important.

Jeff: math you beast... you shall be tamed

  your percentages and time tables shall no longer be a mystery

7:29 AM but be known.

 your word problems shall not confuse and disarm but tell what train will get there first or how tall that flag pole really is

7:30 AM math you shall have a bridle placed upon your snout

  and your power shall be a means unto me

7:31 AM I just wrote that

  what did you think?

  do you think Virgil would be proud?

  or ashamed?

7:32 AM glad that he was dead because it was so poor or glad that he was dead so he would not suffer the pangs of being out done?

  the sad thing is... he remains dead

  and nothing but the day of resurrection shall bring him back

  and on that day.... who knows where he'll be

7:33 AM he died just 30 years close to when Christ was born

  almost made it

 but he is still just left of the meridian of time

  

don't worry there is a way for him

  

I feel more coming on

7:34 AM oh math you rambunctious and overambitious and over anxious subject

  you think you hold the planets in orbit and mans foot on the ground?

  I say not

7:35 AM but you are merely a collection of scribbles in the sand

  that the ocean of time will wash away

  you are but a symbol of man's attempt to explain nature

7:36 AM you are a construct of man's thoughts

  not the actual force in play

7:37 AM that makes children cry when their little hand lets go of their balloon filled with helium

  as it floats away--- you should not gloat

  you math... aged sir... had nothing to do with it

7:38 AM you are merely the face book page for the real powers of nature

  what i'm trying to say Rachel is this

  there is no need to fear math

  you've got that math

  you know that math

  math is but a lullaby to you

7:39 AM softly spoken to lull you to sleep

  as you dream of philosophical greatness and where all those philosophical books should be properly placed on the shelves

7:40 AM and what books should be placed on the discard pile to be sold out on the street

7:41 AM where homeless people will buy them to create loft from the pages to keep warm during the cold nights on the park bench

  no no

  fear not the math

  math is but a subject that will work for your good

  so you don't get over charged at the barney's sale

7:42 AM when you buy things at 80% off

  and you realize that you can buy more

  and look more attractive then you already appear

  but I digress

Thank you JLB!

Baby Jags.

Jagger was born on Tuesday. I met her in a ritzy Beverly Hills hospital on Wednesday. (An original Warhol hung outside their room.) P is a perfect mother. I like seeing how happy/tender she is with her babes. Everyone came home on Saturday, which was good news for me as Valencia is boring without them, and good news for them, as hospital rooms are small, and it is generally better to be home. Jags has lots of dark, dark hair, and looks a little like her brother, but in other ways looks more like my brother, and a traditional Hunt baby. Either way, she is pretty pretty, and oh, so very tiny.

Welcome to the world, little one.