There are those moments...

Moments of such intense personal happiness, not reliant on anyone else, when you know what it is to feel like a little kid again with that funny tickly feeling in your stomach as you anticipate something important to you.

I've been a tad tense the past few months for obvious, and some not so obvious reasons. There have been goals to reach for each week and/or month that signified important aspects of reclaiming my life post-surgery. October flew by so quickly last year that I swore this year I would embrace all the fleeting moments of flame-colored trees and the kiss of winter in the wind. I've been doing that in small ways here and there although I haven't been able to do it at quite the intense level I had hoped for. This weekend was all about ensuring that I get to the trails to be immersed in the scents that are unique to fall and the colors that soothe all the jagged edges inside of me.

Yesterday, driving up, down and around the winding mountain roads, looking at the trees, feeling their hues of warm amber, vibrant red, crispy golden sunshine yellow, and burnt sienna permeate my soul to the very center of me.....that ever-elusive and always surprising tickle of pure sparkling happiness came out of nowhere. The smiles and the bubbling laughter followed in quick succession.

A close friend of mine who lived in Wisconsin, (when I lived in Florida), used to take pictures of the fall leaves and winter snow for me because she knew I needed my fix each year. I took over 75 pictures of leaves, waterfalls, etc. yesterday. But I only posted 16.

http://tinyurl.com/y93gob