I've been included in a Minnesota anthology "Under Purple Skies", now available on Amazon!

My second chapbook, "The Second Book of Pearl: The Cats" is now available as either a paper chapbook or as a downloadable item. See below for the Pay Pal link or click on its cover just to the right of the newest blog post to download to your Kindle, iPad, or Nook. Just $3.99 for inspired tales of gin, gambling addiction and inter-feline betrayal.

My first chapbook, I Was Raised to be A Lert is in its third printing and is available both via the PayPal link below and on smashwords! Order one? Download one? It's all for you, baby!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Wherein I Awake: or Slow and Steady Wins the Race


I have to be reminded, sometimes, of why I love the city. 

Luckily, there are always clues.

Like Willie, who lives next door, who mows my lawn along with his.  Like Cheryl walking from her home to mine carrying a cake she’d made, smilingly telling me that she “needed to get rid of it”.  Like sitting on the back deck and looking at the moon over the wires that run along the poles in the alley, listening to the sounds of the upstairs’ renter putting his dishes away, one clattering, truck stop plate at a time.

Out front, the leaves on the trees in the park across the street slide softly from dark green to last-gasp yellow. 

The Farmers Almanac calls for more snow than usual. 

And I am not prepared.

Where did it go?  Has there been enough summer?  The State of Minnesota – liberal bastion! – had promised me a blue-skied, fluffy-cloud season of picnics and boat `rides.  You saw the commercials!  You heard the talk!

I should have RSVPed.  I should have made plans.

But here it comes, whether you’re for or against.  Here comes Fall, where we take stock of where we’ve been and make plans to do better for the next season.


And here comes the next season. 

I should RSVP.

33 comments:

savannah said...

we probably all should, sweetpea! ;)

down here in savannah, i'm not sure when the hell fall is going to make an appearance since it's going to be hot, humid, sticky, and did i mention hot for what seems an eternity! *sigh*

anyway, if it helps i shall RSVP to mother nature immediately and then i shall go check out my sweaters from last year! *i am, if nothing else, eternally optimistic*

cheers, darling! xoxoxo

sage said...

Imagine this, two Savannah posts back-to-back, but I miss winter (having lived 3 decades in the north or mountain west). Good to see you back, Pearl.

Vicus Scurra said...

She's back! She's back! It's the same one!

Suldog said...

I love Fall, but despise Winter. You didn't need to know that, but it seemed somehow cogent when I thought to type it, but not so much now.

joeh said...

Welcome back, I shall remember this summer as "The Summer Without Pearl."

Joanne Noragon said...

Ah, yes, do RSVP. We've been waiting, too.

Shelly said...

It's time for you to be back here, Pearly. There's a little more that's right in our world this morning.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
OH Pearl, dearest Pearl; I tell you no lie when I say to you now that barely ten minutes ago, in preparing posts for AVblog, you were so very very strong in my heart and mind... You HAVE RSVPd!!! May the warmth of your readers' Love draw you more to this fire... Huggies, YAM xx

Should Fish More said...

Hmmm, someone sounds in need of a vacation away. Or am I amiss?

Winter is fast approaching in Montana, our surrounding mountains had their first 'termination dust' the last week of Aug, though the rest of the summer was unusually warm and smoky from the forest fires.

I'm heading to Europe next month for a bit of food therapy in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. I recommend it highly for those in need of a good recovery program.

Anonymous said...

Missed you Perlie-Girl.....summer is never long enough is it? Why do we always feel like we failed to make the best use of it?

Anonymous said...

Welcome home, Pearlie!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pearl said...

Ah. And now I have tears in my eyes. Thank you all so much. I've missed you.

Connie said...

It catches us all unaware, I think, how fast the seasons glide by us. So glad to see you back.

Catalyst said...

It is 88 here as I write this. I'm looking forward to some autumnal cooling. Welcome back, Pearl, I missed you.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

It is too hot here in PA, but I still don't want the season to leave. A bright spot of September is that your post appeared on my dashboard. You will help us laugh with your stories when the winter comes.

Anonymous said...

Holy cow! This post was poetic. The images. The gorgeous lines. (The cake!)

Yeah! Another Pearl fix!

Gigi said...

Fall isn't in the cards for us just yet (86 and HIGH humidity as I type).

You've been in my thoughts and prayers and you should have seen the smile on my face when I saw you posted! So glad to have you back and hope all is well in your world. xo

vanilla said...

Pearl is here, give a cheer! It's a good day. Summer's most vicious streak waited until September arrived. But I'll bet fall will start tomorrow.

Marty said...

Forget summer or fall. We're entering the Schizophrenic Season.
Today it was 96 and as dry as a Texas creek bed (here in Massachusetts). Tomorrow it will be rainy and in the 70s.

Elephant's Child said...

Welcome back Pearl.
The blogosphere feels stronger, warmer, and better now you are back.

jenny_o said...

Oh, Pearl! I'm so glad to see this post. I check every day, hoping ... hoping ... not so much for the post, but to know that you're okay. There's been a big hole in our lives without your presence, and as Elephant's Child said, it feels better now.

I do love fall; once the weather cools off I can actually think again.

Geo. said...

Son called from San Francisco this p.m., said it was 106F in some parts of the city. I was in Marin County 'til 10 a.m. and it was 102F. This is unheard of! I sure hope your return to blogging brings better temperatures. World always makes more sense with you in it.

Lin said...

Oh my gosh...there you are! I just checked here the other day to see if you were back posting. So glad you are! Far too many blogs going dark these days.

Leenie said...

Your fan club is still here. Thanks for the post. Thought you'd dropped into a manhole. Yes, summer was way, way to quick and winter won't give autumn much of a moment on the stage at our latitude.

Linda O'Connell said...

So glad to hear your voice. Yes, your posts have a voice, and we have all missed yours. 86 today and 50s tomorrow night. Who can figure this weather out? I hate winter. How do you make it through?

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

So happy to see you posting again, Pearl! It truly makes this early fall day a bright one!

Anonymous said...

Yay! You're back! You've been missed.

Launna said...

Pearl, I for one love the Fall BUT... I was not looking forward to it this year as the nasty Winter follows TOO quickly... It is so good to see you back... Have a great week xox

Janice said...

I'm so glad you're back. I checked every week, waiting for you lovely stories. Summer does go by quickly, but where I am we have been blessed with an almost endless number of perfect temperature days. I will miss this string of perfection when autumn arrives, but not as much as I missed seeing your posts. Welcome back.

Simply Suthern said...

Hey Pearl,
Get Lefty and righty gloves out and hang on, It's coming.

Watson said...

Dancing the "welcome back Pearl" dance and so delighted to "see" you again Pearl. You have been very much missed.
Hugs from Barbara and smelly doggy kisses from Watson

Unknown said...

YAY!!