I don't have a favorite season, and I believe that's because I'm from Mississippi (where Fall & Spring are miniscule). Plus, winter here is so very mild (free air conditioning!). Therefore, for Rob, it all just blends together month to month to month.
But fall of 2024 is different. Something about it...
I know I'm anticipating the Samson Summit, and primarily because of its location.
Every "National Retreat" (as they were originally dubbed) has always been in middle TN at a pretty low rent Methodist Retreat Center. (Last year's really doesn't count. The venue was such an overstep due to its scale / posh.)
As such, I'm anticipating a fresh place (East Coast) and a very fresh, appropriately scaled locale. Why?
It should bring in some fresh Samson blood. I get so worn out seeing the same guys frequent these events (& believe me, I'm sure they feel the same about Rob). Fresh Samson blood means opportunity for fresh relationships.
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I'm part of a volunteer board (& have been for 3-4 years now) that supports the area of the Jackson Metro that we live in. At the beginning of 2025, my plan is to resign my post. There're two remaining events that we're hosting this fall (both of which I'm looking forward to), and then from there, I'll be hanging up my hat.
It took two decades for me to find out about this troupe (that supports our area), and I'm so glad I did, but all in all, I'm ready to retire. Our meetings have grown tedious, and the volunteer work repetitive. Nonetheless, it's been a fantastic experience for me overall. Giving back locally is a gift in and of itself.
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This forthcoming holiday SHOULD BE the last one with all three daughters home here within our 1,550 sf abode.
Living with four arguably ADULT women - full-time - quickly wears me down. Especially when there's no rhyme nor reason as to their schedules (they make fun of dad / husband for not being able to expertly keep up with who's slated to do what with whom and when each & every day).
My oldest is a senior in college. She's very much ready to fly the coop. Yay! Knowing this will be her last hurrah here at our "garden home", puts a huge smile on my face. I'm so proud of her, and I see so much of myself therein. As such, I want to cherish this final Xmas together before saying sayonara.
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& finally, I'm a closet gardener. As such, I have a plant that blooms on overdrive throughout October (up to the first frost). It's a perennial, and it's about a 1/3 of the size of a full-size pickup truck (though a head or two taller).
For some reason, this plant is a rarity in these parts yet considered an "Old Southern" plant. I was encouraged to purchase it (county extension plant sale) +/-15 years ago prior to planting the 1/2-gallon pot adjacent to our driveway (in a small, newly prepped flower bed), and now, here we are. It's my King Kong plant.
The blooms are the size of softballs and interestingly enough, they open as cotton white before turning pink then crimson red over the course of the next 48 hours. From there, the outlandish blooms die quickly and drop to the ground. Because there're so many, the base around this native Asian plant becomes littered with slippery nastiness (think falling figs off a fig tree).
Countless people stop me when I'm outside piddling to inquire about this Confederate Rose plant. Experiencing its show firsthand is such a blessed way to usher end the final stretch of each calendar year. Considering the apocalyptic heat / dryness of Q3 / Q4 '23, there's all the more reason to botanically celebrate what's right around the corner.
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