Mother Nature Does As She Pleases

I just went out on my deck to check out the night skies. Feeder bands for hurricane Earl are now blanketing Virginia, even though Earl is still several hundred miles away. If you click on the picture and enlarge it, you will see a spit of land projecting out from the North Carolina shore, out into the Atlantic. Those are the Outer Banks, and my brother-in-law's mother and brother live there. Fortunately, this storm is staying off coast, but it's hurricane force winds extend far out from it's center, so all tourists have been ordered to evacuate. Not so for the residents, who may stay or leave at their leisure.

My Brother-in-law's mother and brother, may decide that conditions are too dangerous to stay, and will be driving up to Richmond to stay with my bro-in-law. It would be nice to see them at my mother's for Monday night supper, but I'm sure that as soon as the threat has passed, they will headed on back home. I usually only get to see them during the holidays. My b-i-l's mother is getting on in age, and has lost a great deal of mobility. She deserves a good warm hug. My b-i-l's brother on the other hand, is a sweet guy, but just about the most boring person you have ever listened to. Boring as he may be, he's so darned nice, that you don't want to brush him off, so you listen to him, even though you aren't the least bit interested in what he has to say! Now that's what civility purchases for you! It's too bad his more arrogant brother has never learned that lesson.

I'm listening to Gustav Mahler's 1st symphony, and I have to tell you that it is perfectly magical! I absolutely love it! It really takes me away from here, and that is always what I look for in music, whether it be Pink Floyd, Dvořák, Beethoven, The Beatles, or Mahler!

Melissa XX