Murphy's Law

September is drawing to a close on a much more peaceful note than it started in our family.  The end of August and beginning of September brought daily dilemnas including:
* Ash's car was rear-ended, pushing her car into the car in front of her -- we are still fighting with the other guy's insurance company to get the repairs paid for.
* I woke up to the fluttering of a bat in the bedroom one night -- eek!  Not again!  I had to have the "batman" out to get it out of the room (with rabies testing to follow --thankfully it was rabies free).  We are working with a bat company now to rehome the bats that seem to like my roof with the result of one sneaking into the house at night when I let the dogs out.
* Happily doing my housework I noticed a strange smell from the dishwasher coming from the dishwasher -- hot wires.  It went kaplooey and I had to spend an afternoon at Sears dishwasher shopping so my old one could retire.
* Dad and the police department called me one day at work to say his brand new, rather pricey,  bicycle had been stolen. 
* Lys called me one morning to say her car wouldn't start at all.  Good ol' AAA towed her to a mechanic and they got the car in running order but provided a long list of $1500 worth of recommended repairs.  So we were faced with the decision of whether to invest in the older car or put the money toward a newer used car with fewer miles.  She opted for the later and after a couple days of shopping, test driving and negotiating, she is now back on the road in her new used car.

Issues finally resolved (except for Ash's car saga), things are settling into a nice routine again.  Summer weather is still here, but I heard the patter of rain on the roof last night for the first time in weeks.  Today I am getting out the autumn decorations for my house and doing some fall housecleaning.  I'm getting the oil changed in my car, having a pedicure and then meeting a friend for coffee later today.  September is here!

September

Realizing that I haven't blogged for the past two weeks, I must explain. I really did not abandon ship in the middle of the course. Life just got a hold of me and wouldn't let go! I started back to work at the school district mid-August (earlier every year, it seems) with the usual fall initiation craziness. Then loose ends from my summer projects and fall prep responsibilities nagged and nagged until I took care of them, one by one.

Now September is here. That gear-switching month, scolding in that stern school teacher voice, "No more nonsense now! Time to get back into your routines!" Go to bed on time, get up on time, take out the trash on Sunday night, fill up your tank before the weekend prices. Keep your bed made, your laundry caught up, and stay on schedule with your book club for a change. I'm listening. And there is comfort in returning to routines. A sense of being productive. A sense of stability. Peace. All is well.

So now, I can also get back to writing in my blog -- my wonderful outlet for whatever topic I feel so inclined to discuss. And to make sure I have tied up ALL my summer loose ends, I'll continue with another entry or two to wrap up our Life at the Sea (aka "days with summer guests"). A coworker went to an Earth, Wind and Fire concert last night and mentioned their song, "September." I've had it in my head ever since.

September
Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing
As we danced in the night,
Remember how the stars stole the night away

on and on - say that you remember
on and on - dancing in September
on and on - never was a cloudy day
...
Some bells were ringing
Our souls were singing
Do you remember, never a cloudy day?

Now that's the September spirit!