Kati, I absolutely loved this piece. I spent the last 31 years living in the Pacific Northwest, in Vancouver and then in the city of Maple Ridge, BC. I know about November; when the rain started, it just never stopped for days, sometimes weeks. Everything left outside would soon be covered in green moss, which we would have to attack with chemicals and steel wool in the spring time in order to bring it back from the brink of turning into mush. I also have always hated November, but my depression always started in September, with the smell of leaves and plants dying. I have moved just this year to the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, where so far the rain has come and gone in just a few hours and the sky opens up to embrace the sun almost every day. So far, I feel less depressed and sadβ¦.. hoping this lasts until the magic of spring!
Kati, I am sharing these two photoβs I took recently that I hope will brighten your day. In the first one, the grandness of the sky took my breath away. And in the second one, the contrasting colours of blue filled my heart (and eyes) with amazement! I hope you will enjoy. Hang in there my friend, and find beauty wherever you can.
Living in the PNW, I have to steel myself when November rolls around. The summers are glorious and that keeps me going. My poor coleus plants have been stripped by the rain. The dahlias try valiantly to keep going. Frost will come soon.
I loved this! I live in Northwestern Ontario. Our winters are long and hard, although we do get a lot of sunlight, thankfully. I am 72 and working on a cycle of poems about the winter of my life. I'm not sure when that is officially. I'm half Finn, and live in a city with a strong Finnish population. Northwestern Ontario historically attracted Finnish immigrants because of its geographic similarity to Finland.
The descriptions of Finnish winter, the stunning photos (that sunset with the snow-frosted trees is gorgeous), and the concept of "novembering"- it sounds so romantic and makes me feel so hopeful for the future.
I'll turn 66 in less than a month, and much of this resonates for me. My 95 year old aunt is dying in hospice, surrounded by loving family as I write, which gives me perspective. I see this as my fourth quarter of life (if I live to 88, as my mother did), although the pace of aging the past five years has shocked me and made me wonder how this body could go on that long (and do I want it to?). I'm sharing your post with a friend in Fairbanks, Alaska, who tells me of the lovely blue light on the snow and the extended dawn and dusk in November. Each season, of the earth and of a life, is worth living fully.
Such a beautiful expression of how I have been feeling. Rather than relating to the darkness of November as I live where I have sunshine, I relate to the feeling of being in that time before winter. I am struggling with how suddenly the aging process has consumed me. Thank you for sharing.
I empathise with this; my 68th birthday was a month ago. Autumn has always been my season, but (even as I still dance, here on the cusp between seasons) I am starting to feel my winter gathering me in its chill embrace. I've somehow never been in Finland in winter (autumn, yes, and eaten alive with it π¦), I intend to remedy that as I move into my own endgame.
Oh, I love this, Kat! I grew up in the PNW, raised my family (mostly) there, so the rain and misty forests are a part of me. I fled the rain happily to spend years in (mostly) sunnier climes, but recently moved to Amsterdam. I am feeling so at home here! November is giving me wings, something I did not expect. π
Wonderful description of your time of life and the life of Time. I live in mid-Michigan where our winters are usually a bit on the gloomy side. November is always the worst month. From the glorious colors of September and October to the drab drizzle of November. Fortunately, we do get some spectacular clear (cold) days where the sky is crystal blue and the sun is pure light. We have just had our first snowfall of the season: the scene is a kaleidoscope of blue,white,orange,yellow and oak leaf brown. Hopefully, your first snowfall will arrive soon and brighten your mood. Also, remember that there isnβt any bad weather, only bad clothes.
Kati, I absolutely loved this piece. I spent the last 31 years living in the Pacific Northwest, in Vancouver and then in the city of Maple Ridge, BC. I know about November; when the rain started, it just never stopped for days, sometimes weeks. Everything left outside would soon be covered in green moss, which we would have to attack with chemicals and steel wool in the spring time in order to bring it back from the brink of turning into mush. I also have always hated November, but my depression always started in September, with the smell of leaves and plants dying. I have moved just this year to the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, where so far the rain has come and gone in just a few hours and the sky opens up to embrace the sun almost every day. So far, I feel less depressed and sadβ¦.. hoping this lasts until the magic of spring!
Thank you Deborah! I envy you - I miss sun so much. Enjoy it for me β€οΈ
Kati, I am sharing these two photoβs I took recently that I hope will brighten your day. In the first one, the grandness of the sky took my breath away. And in the second one, the contrasting colours of blue filled my heart (and eyes) with amazement! I hope you will enjoy. Hang in there my friend, and find beauty wherever you can.
Wow - stunning photos! They did brighten my day - thank you so much!
Living in the PNW, I have to steel myself when November rolls around. The summers are glorious and that keeps me going. My poor coleus plants have been stripped by the rain. The dahlias try valiantly to keep going. Frost will come soon.
I loved this! I live in Northwestern Ontario. Our winters are long and hard, although we do get a lot of sunlight, thankfully. I am 72 and working on a cycle of poems about the winter of my life. I'm not sure when that is officially. I'm half Finn, and live in a city with a strong Finnish population. Northwestern Ontario historically attracted Finnish immigrants because of its geographic similarity to Finland.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this.
The descriptions of Finnish winter, the stunning photos (that sunset with the snow-frosted trees is gorgeous), and the concept of "novembering"- it sounds so romantic and makes me feel so hopeful for the future.
I love this piece
I'll turn 66 in less than a month, and much of this resonates for me. My 95 year old aunt is dying in hospice, surrounded by loving family as I write, which gives me perspective. I see this as my fourth quarter of life (if I live to 88, as my mother did), although the pace of aging the past five years has shocked me and made me wonder how this body could go on that long (and do I want it to?). I'm sharing your post with a friend in Fairbanks, Alaska, who tells me of the lovely blue light on the snow and the extended dawn and dusk in November. Each season, of the earth and of a life, is worth living fully.
Thank you Joni. Yes, every season in life and in nature has its own beauty <3
Such a beautiful expression of how I have been feeling. Rather than relating to the darkness of November as I live where I have sunshine, I relate to the feeling of being in that time before winter. I am struggling with how suddenly the aging process has consumed me. Thank you for sharing.
I empathise with this; my 68th birthday was a month ago. Autumn has always been my season, but (even as I still dance, here on the cusp between seasons) I am starting to feel my winter gathering me in its chill embrace. I've somehow never been in Finland in winter (autumn, yes, and eaten alive with it π¦), I intend to remedy that as I move into my own endgame.
Oh, I love this, Kat! I grew up in the PNW, raised my family (mostly) there, so the rain and misty forests are a part of me. I fled the rain happily to spend years in (mostly) sunnier climes, but recently moved to Amsterdam. I am feeling so at home here! November is giving me wings, something I did not expect. π
Wonderful description of your time of life and the life of Time. I live in mid-Michigan where our winters are usually a bit on the gloomy side. November is always the worst month. From the glorious colors of September and October to the drab drizzle of November. Fortunately, we do get some spectacular clear (cold) days where the sky is crystal blue and the sun is pure light. We have just had our first snowfall of the season: the scene is a kaleidoscope of blue,white,orange,yellow and oak leaf brown. Hopefully, your first snowfall will arrive soon and brighten your mood. Also, remember that there isnβt any bad weather, only bad clothes.
I am Finnish also and I know of what you speak.
But you have 34 more years to go to 100! You're younger than you think β€οΈ
Once a gain a brilliant piece of writing Kati. Thank you!