I have moved my lap top out to my backyard for an early evening write. I am surrounded by my White Picket Garden...honeysuckle sways over my head with the occasional hummingbird to keep me company. Sunflower and black eyed Susan's as well as early mums guard my garden gate. The sky is ominous with the threat of a passing shower...in which case I will swoop up my lap top (and wine
glass!) for shelter.

I feel guilty reveling in this sweetness with Hurricane Katrina still loose and lashing about the southern part of our country. When I was still a college student and living in Scranton, Pennsylvania, I was fired from my waitress job during Hurricane Agnes. It swept through with such fury..most of Wilkes Barre was out of power and water tore through the streets. The restaurant I worked in was still functioning with a generator, and I was called in to work.
The conversation was, of course, the flood waters and devastation, but as I recall the story from long ago..one couple complained about the food. My comments to them resulted in the turning in of my apron. I was only happy to do so.

So, tonight I join you in grieving for lives and homes and community, and really the simple things we take for granted...water from the faucet, a humming refrigerator, a clean bed, dry shoes.

Sometimes I want to write that it was a good week in Lake Woebegone...except my stories are all true (sorry, Garrison Keillor!)

I have taken a fondness for kayaking and with friends visiting last week end, we took to the water...Pigeon River in Northern Indiana. OK, OK, it is not the Pamlico Sound off of Ocracoke Island...but it was incredibly beautiful...cheap, too! A young couple has started up an old business, and for $15.00 per day you can rent a kayak or a canoe and go up and down the river...into many small lakes. I felt quite like Henry David Thoreau (or at least a beginner
guide) as I took my guests meandering down the river. I think kayaking is my new hobby. Now I just need my own kayak (I know, my kids are thinking, here we go
again!) I just love hobbies! By the way, my bicycle that is parked by my back door does get ridden every day!

My life has settled down again after my summer with Philip. I miss him so...but try to keep busy with lots of activities: Suck as my book club (we even have new members and are reading Wicked for next month.) I have had numerous dinner parties, week end guests, and household projects. My next project is to stain all the lovely wood in the back yard and paint the picket fence. I feel a little Mark Twain coming on....I'll serve lemonade and tell you stories whilst you paintist my fencist!!

School is delightful with my new theatre classes...the day rolls by and I come home to reading or mowing or telling good night stories to my babies and the daily chat with Philip. (We have companion phones!)

There has been music and dancing in the park...neighborhood pot lucks...and good friends to keep me busy!

My family is well, but oh so far away. My Mom and Dad celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday with my brother, Jack and his wife, Denise. They are also visiting my sister, Leslie, and baby-sitting for a few days in Houston.
I spent yesterday with Jessie and her family...all were present for a birthday cookout. I will never be the hostess that she is...nor the travel agent.
She and Bruce are leaving this week end for almost three weeks in Europe. She has been planning for a year and her itinerary is longer than Tolstoy's War and Peace (well, almost!) They will visit Prague, Helsinki, Paris, Luxembourg, St. Petersburg...I am envious of this trip....but I wish her Godspeed in her journey!! My Uncle Dean continues to entertain his three triplet grandchildren in New York. I was to have visited them this week end, but I was a little slow in making my plane reservations. I will be there in thought as I know the activities for the week end and the stories that he will tell! Please save me a few, Uncle Dean, for our next visit! Kristin has just returned from her overseas trip (Abe's wife), and I have yet to hear of her adventures, but know that she has stories to tell.

It is always about stories to tell. The folks in the South will tell stories all of their lives about this Hurricane....when today is a long time ago.

Until next week, I wish you happiness, peace, and a lovely garden to write in.

Lou Ann