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The passing of a fascinating month

  • Writer: kiehart
    kiehart
  • Mar 1, 2023
  • 2 min read

As the cold winds usher in the month of March I am reflecting on February and wonder if life can be any more exciting. I don't take any of this for granted. I know I am blessed and ever humble and thankful for...

--- continued good health.

--- every book that has sold and then loaned to a friend because it's not about the number of sales, it's about the number of readers!

--- setting May 7th for a book talk at Orca Books in Olympia.

--- every book review posted---so many from people I have not met in person!

--- hearing that 'Listen, the Board is Talking,' my short story, is accepted for publication in the 2023 NIWA Anthology.

--- turning 70 years old (when my dad turned 70, his advice to me was, "Don't get old" --possibly a dad joke?)

--- in-person, one-on-one meetups to talk about memoir writing.

--- ZOOM requests from book clubs.

--- clearing my desk area and updating my 2023 calendar with PRIDE events, bookselling events (Oly Arts Walk in April and the Griffin Neighborhood picnic in September), and local theater performances (Olympia Family Theater to see "The Girl Who Ate a Catcus" in March and SPSCC's "Falsettos" in July to name a couple).

AND,

--- working with classmates as we plan our 52nd HS Reunion --- COVID prevented a 2021 meet-up.


Also during the past 30 days I've read several memoirs from authors on the We Love Memoir FaceBook page. "Hatched" by Sharon Wallen, "Confessions of a VAT Inspector" by UK author Dawn Fallon, and "Wallace and Me" by UK author Cathy Mayes. I love reading the stories of writers' lives in other countries. There are about a dozen other memoirs on my e-reader from this group waiting for their turn to be read.


Mustn't forget a shout-out to Beth Haslam & Zoe Marr's "Completely Cats--Stories with Cattitude" and Kerk Murray's book, "Pawprints on Our Hearts" for providing that warm, cuddly feeling when we read about our fur babies.


I've updated my website so readers can purchase an autographed copy of Calico Lane through their Venmo account. Figuring this out was a huge techy step for me (and, yes, I needed my son's help). www.judykiehart.com Check it out! Purchase an autographed copy for your LGBTQ friends and allies!


So today is the start of a new month: March! Yes, soon there will be a dinner of corned beef brisket with cabbage, carrots, and onions. And, since it's still too chilly to start any work on the flower beds, I'll continue the two books I am reading ("The Love of my Life" by Rosie Walsh and "Butter Side Up, Thank God" by Tina Wagner Mattern).


2023 looks to be a whirlwind of activity! Buckle up for the ride with me!




 
 
 

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September Post

September isn't just a Month--it's a Mindset

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Photo: Monarch Pass, Colorado, September

Let me begin with a quote that captures the quiet magic of this month: “September tries its best to have us forget summer.” – Bernard Williams.

 

There’s something bittersweet about September. It’s not loud with excitement and energy like July or with sparkle and shine like December. It whispers. It reminds us that change is approaching—and change can inspire personal reflection.

 

In the Northern Hemisphere, September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The days grow shorter, the air turns crisp, and trees begin their slow, spectacular transformation. Leaves shift from green to gold, amber, and crimson—nature’s final fireworks before winter’s hush.

 

September teaches us that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping—it means preparing. Families switch into school mode. Farmers begin their harvest. Animals start their migration or gather food for the colder months.

 

September is a quieter month. The rush of summer fades, and the frenzy of the holidays hasn’t yet begun. There’s time to think. To breathe.

 

I’ve always found September to be a time of clarity--my 'chill' month. It’s when I take stock of my goals, reconnect with my values, and prepare for the final stretch of the year. For me, it’s about recalibration.

 

So what is September, really? It’s a month of balance, of beauty, of quiet transformation. Observe the changes that surround you each day. Be reminded that change doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

 

As we move through this month, I invite you to let go of what no longer serves you. And prepare, with purpose, for what’s to come.

 

 

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