Runaway

I had to do something, even if it meant making a trip to town (and that is my favorite thing to do, not!).  The Boss is relentless, so I ran away before she could think up some new chore for me.  I started stocking up on non-perishables for Thanksgiving and bought an obligatory bag of candy for Halloween.  I buy a small bag of a candy that I like because in all the years I've lived here, not one trick-or-treater has ever walked up the drive.  Of course I end up eating the whole thing, but tradition is tradition and far be it from me to break one.  I hate to admit it, but the trip along country roads at this time of year is quite pleasant.  Trees in the hills are dressing in fall colors that simply pop.  The stretch of Hwy. 50 through Placerville is especially beautiful, lined with flame-colored pistache.

Bessie Anne knows, and expects, that she will get a small treat whenever I've left her alone, and so is always happy to see me come back and leads me directly to the kitchen; the fact that I ran away is forgiven.  As a treat for myself, I started a new book, but only had time for a couple of hundred pages before sundown.  An avid if not voracious reader all my life, I've been going through a dry spell and it's been months since I've turned a page.  I can appreciate the convenience of a Kindle, but I like the heft of a book and the feel of paper.  It's like shaking the hand of a new friend.  This new adventure is 1,000 pages, a big book, and Celeste had a bit of difficulty finding room on my lap, but she and I made accommodations and settled in together.  It was hard to put down book and cat, but Bess informed me that it was time to put the kids to bed.  She's still cracking the whip.

Just when I thought dawn this morning couldn't get any prettier, in a matter of minutes it absolutely exploded.  Made me think of Rudyard Kipling's "Road to Mandalay," "...and the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay."

I don't know what Bessie has planned for me, but it's going to be a good day.