The Swell Season

There is a local farmer's market near me. It starts in the summer when it's full of hot sun and fresh fruit. But now it's full of cool mornings and harvest vegetables. I went by myself over the weekend to observe the last market of the year. Because regardless of the particular spoils, there is so much to see and touch.

I looked quite a bit at the different shapes and sizes of squash and gourds. I like a group of pumpkins sitting up straight, occasionally lean this way or that way. I like the twisty-turvey necks of squash and their many colors and patterns. I like when I find witch-like warts or smooth, dull surfaces.

I tasted all of the sweets I could find (brownies, especially) and the last of the season's fruits. I got a bear full of honey to go with the fresh scones Algernon makes on Sunday mornings.

I listened to musicians, some playing loud music and some playing quiet music. I remembered that I tried the accordion once (though it proved unsuccessful without fingers). This musician —Keith Lewis — has proved it very successful (and I'm sure the fingers help).

I smelled the fresh flowers taking in deep breaths of their rich autumn scents. I left with two bunches to give to Penny and Yvette.

I noticed the colorful leaves above me and the friendly beasts below me and decided I will miss the farmer's market through the winter. But it will be back. And in the meantime, there will be holidays and sledding and snow. I like all the seasons in their time.

I'm going to eat a carrot.

You should eat a carrot, too.

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Kuala Lampur: Somewhere New

Stilts recently took me with him to Malaysia. He was attending a yoga retreat and I explored Kuala Lampur by myself.

I strolled past the Malaysian Houses of Parliament hoping to run into Malaysian parliamentarians, but I did not.

I did go to 12 of the city's many, many malls. I made a plan to get to 30 on my next trip and 24 the trip after that... I think then I will really be an authority on Malaysian malls.

I visited the Petronas Twin Towers and looked at the tiny world below from the skybridge on the 41st floor. I took a few taxi rides over the city and made a few taxi driver friends. And when I felt ready to go home, Stilts and I ate a final Nasi lemak meal together and were off on our way.

I like new places (and home places, too).

I hope you like new places and your home place, too.

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The Colosseum

I love going home for a visit. Rome is such a beautiful city, so much to do and see. This time I took Black Jack on his first trip to the Colosseum. He would like to be a gladiator for Halloween this year. A gladiator or British Royal Queen's Guard; he wants a dignified costume.

I like perusing from the inside out.

Black Jack preferred the bird's eye view.

I try to imagine the Colosseum in its original Flavius Amphitheatre glory. I envision 50,000 spectators. I study the travertine stone of the exterior. I question the thought process behind the naming of the vomitoria.

I think I would have liked to see a Roman drama there. I think I would not have liked to see an animal hunt there.


Maybe I'll see you there.

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