Dear Reader:

When I started getting ” Fall Ready” visually Tuesday afternoon ( upon my return from Tommy’s and Kaitlyn’s) -decorating my Happy Room was my first ” to do” item.

Normally I exchange wreaths for the mantle but something made me pause and reconsider what would be the central decor on the mantle backdrop. I went in my bedroom and ” gathered” up the large sign that spelled out GATHER.

I felt inclined this year to decorate a little differently… still lots of pumpkins and fall wreaths but with more emphasis on gratitude and thanksgiving-I put most of the ” Boo’s” and Halloween on the other side for the grandchildren to play with…

Maybe it was because I had just come from a family gathering … but being around family makes me happy-lifts my spirits-the best medicine in the world. But if we stop making the effort to gather with family-this time-honored ritual could fall prey to technology-zooming instead of actually being there.

I think the coronavirus definitely contributed to the slow-down of all kinds of gatherings-certainly understandable but when we don’t physically gather-we miss those so important tactile hugs, the art of reading physical expressions, interpreting verbal conversations, compassion and encouragement through another art-listening! All vital skills needed in human communication.

The definition of gathering is simplistic on the surface but with a deeper meaning underneath. It means “To come together.”

Don’t we hear more and more people respond to questions on the closeness of their family …say something along the lines of ” Oh yes… my family is close… I text home once a week.” It used to be ” call home once a week” … but more people now prefer texting because it is faster and they can control the conversation and not have to interpret voice tones and inflections.

And we wonder why communication is so confusing these days… when we take the ” human” factor out… it just leaves alphabet letters in its place…. suddenly all open to interpretation or misinterpretation. Laughter, giggles, sighs, exhilaration, even stress, crying, sadness or prolonged quietness can’t be replaced by written words –voice tones are such an important part of human communication.

So until tomorrow… Each Autumn, now, when I get ready to start my trip around the sun… it becomes more and more important to arrange additional ” spacecraft ” family gathering landings to renew and uplift my spirits …surrounded by loved ones. Building and maintaining close relationships with family and friends is the secret of gravity’s hold on us… pulling us home.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh