5.

 Summer is in her final days and October is right around the corner. My insides feel warm and woolly at the thought of what October will bring and the walk to class is a little less miserable knowing that soon, I'll be wearing boots, tights, sweaters, and coats.

... 

1. I spent the summer starting (and finishing) a few (more than a few) TV shows: Lost., Orange is the New Black, Parks and Rec., Girls, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones. 

2. Our family started fostering someone! I really love getting to do typical big-sister things. I am now experiencing what it's like to have an annoying younger brother who jumps out behind things and scares you, puts "bunny ears" behind your head during pictures, mocks you, sighs the kind of sigh that only comes during teenage years, and sleeps all day. 

3. I read a lot of Frank O'Hara and went on a few road trips to Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Birmingham. I saw "Kepner"from Grey's Anatomy at the Birmingham Zoo. Trey found out that he loves fried catfish, hates pecan logs, and is in love with Wybie. I found out that I needed glasses, am a big Braves fan, and that Trey is a chef.

4. I sat with Andy while he packed for China and spent as much time with him as possible. It wasn't enough. My arms and legs are going to lose their resistance for his brother-sister punches and karate chops. Meaning, I'll be covered in bruises when he comes back.

 

                     

5. My dad planted sunflowers that must have been ten feet tall. I saw Passenger in concert and Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance. I painted more dead birds and a couple of insects here and there.

6. I made pumpkin pies, wore cardigans almost every day, wore sweaters and sweatshirts when it was below ninety degrees, bought a pair of boots, listened to Christmas music, lusted over Halloween decorations, and counted down the days until fall. Five days to go.

Take a moment to notice that your nose isn't running. 

Notice that you aren't congested. 

Notice that your nose isn't red and raw from rubbing it. 

Notice that the space above your top lip isn't burning from tissue friction.

Notice that your throat feels fine and that you can laugh without coughing.

Notice that your eyes aren't stinging and that you are fever-free. 

Hold on to this moment.

Savor it. 

Thank your soft, dry nose and your empty nasal passages. 

Thank your immune system for being the victor that it is.
We don't pay enough attention to these moments when they are with us. We only miss them when they go.

Unless, your nose is running and you are congested. Unless your nose is red, raw, and stinging. Unless your immune system has slacked off and decided to take a break from being a warrior.

If these things are true: join me in having a quarantined movie marathon. Or, a quarantined book party where we sit together under covers and quietly read our own books. Let's have a tea party with tissues and cough drops instead of scones and cucumber sandwiches. Let's take DayQuil and NyQuil and push through this. 

Bless you.

Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life

 The Diary of Frida Kahlo    An Intimate Self Portrait

36 Hours        125 Weekends in Europe

36 Hours    150 Weekends in the USA and Canada

36 Hours    USA and Canada Northeast 

The Poetry of Pablo Neruda

Hysteria - T.S. Eliot

As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her laughter 

and being part of it, until her teeth were only accidental stars with 

a talent for squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps, inhaled at 

each momentary recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her 

throat, bruised by the ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiter 

with trembling hands was hurriedly spreading a pink and white 

checked cloth over the rusty green iron table, saying: 'If the 

lady and gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden, if the

lady and gentleman wish to take their tea to the garden . . .'

I decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be stopped, 

some of the fragments of the afternoon might be collected, and

I concentrated my attention with careful subtlety to this end.

Alphabet

Who couldn't love these?

David Doran

Yann Le Bec

Eibatova Karina

Yong Chen

?

Apart from exciting road trips, potting plants, family time, books, Lost, The Walking Dead and hour long phone calls with far-away friends...my summer was spent with paint. I finished my paintings of deceased birds and found myself on an insect-painting kick. 

Monotype this semester and I can not wait.

I'm a senior?

Andy made it to China and I couldn't be more thankful. If you want to keep up with him, here is a link to his blog : http://southbyfareast.wordpress.com/.

Now, I'm back in Tuscaloosa and starting my senior year. I'll be here for a couple more years so that I can make sure that I am completely equipped for graduate school. But still.. the thought of being a senior is too odd. I don't feel the way that I thought I would feel. It's strange. 

Being back in Tuscaloosa means that I'm close to Birmingham. This is a very good thing.

Also, I'm enjoying this rain and these cooler temperatures. Thanks, God.