Dear Reader:

Yesterday I woke up determined to get my flu shot. I decided that I would be Publix Pharmacy’s first customer… but to my unpleasant surprise the pharmacy opens an hour later than the store-all the blinds were drawn. A whole hour to ” kill.”

With another bout of fortitude … I returned home to put a load of clothes in the washer, make my bed, check my blog and squeeze in a few more daily routine chores.

At 10 till 9 I was sitting in a chair waiting for the blinds to be raised and the pharmacy window to open . At 9:00 both expectations simultaneously occurred.

The cute girl asked if I had already signed up for a time appointment and I let her know that I just showed up-actually at 8 hoping to get in for a flu shot -so I had already been back home doing chores.

She gave me a paper to fill out and said my appointment was at 10! Another hour to ” kill.” The girl must have seen my disappointment and responded -” You have already worked through one hour-why don’t you treat yourself and do something fun … just for you… with this hour?”

I gave her a weak smile and tried not to audibly sigh as I headed, once again, back to the car. Fun, huh? Then it hit me. The best thing about living in the Lowcountry is that fall starts peaking at its most beautiful the closer we get to Thanksgiving. I had been wanting to ride around town and take fall pictures of my charming town -dazzling, delicate, and delightful! Now I had the luxurious gift of time to do just that!

But first I wanted to drive over to Hutchinson Square and check on this whimsical archway that had been going up a few days before. Upclose it was even more mysterious-beautifully translucent-like a butterfly-but no plaque or story behind it.

From the town square I drove along the back roads of old neighborhoods looking for fall in every living form. Here are some samples of my ” treasured”scenes!

A lone leaf fluttered down and landed by my feet-what a gift from the universe!

And how great is my genuine affection and love for my adopted home town of several decades-time has been kind to old town center of Summerville and I thank God everyday that His Path lead me here-the ” Flowertown in the Pines!”

So until tomorrow-the next time you get the gift of” wait time” go celebrate the beauty around you filled with gratitude and a ” shot” of thankfulness for simply ” being.”

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh