When does autumn begin? What about the change in the weather?

I never know whether fall begins on September 21 or 22 so I asked Cortana Computer who asked Bing.com. The following is the first of their answers.

ASTRONOMICAL: In the northern hemisphere of Earth, Fall begins on the Autumnal equinox --22-23 September (in Persian calendar it will begin at the first day of Mehr) and ends on the Winter solstice (21-22 December). 

In the southern hemisphere of Earth, Fall begins on the Autumnal equinox (20-21 March) and ends on the Winter solstice (20-21 June). Can you imagine this? An email friend in Canberra, Australia is enjoying spring and sharing photos of daffodils!

CLIMATOLOGICAL: The World Meteorological Organization officially mandates September 1 of any year as the first day of the climatological autumn and November 30 as the last day in the northern hemisphere.
In the southern hemisphere, the climatological autumn begins March 1 and ends May 31.

             ECOLOGICAL: The ecological autumn has no fixed dates but coincides with the period that the leaves of deciduous trees change color and fall to the ground.

So, now I know. Thanks to Cortana and Bing and their online sites. True to the Astronomical season, the weather changed, or began to change, Thursday night, the 20^th. Because, the next morning, I awoke with a piercing pain in the center of my left foot. Yes, I’d had foot surgery back a ‘ways, but not there—only in and around my toes.

Nothing to do but go again to Cortana/Bing: Two experts on the subject of changes and how they can/ may affect one’s body are Robert N. Jamison, Harvard Medical School, and David Borenstein, George Washington University Medical Center. They are quoted in the site that showed up first:

“One leading theory points to changes in air pressure. Although many people say that their pain worsens with damp, rainy weather, research has shown that it's not the cold, wind, rain, or snow, Borenstein says. ‘The thing that affects people most is barometric pressure.’"

 “But barometric pressure often drops before bad weather sets in. This lower air pressure pushes less against the body, allowing tissues to expand -- and those expanded tissues can put pressure on the joint. ‘It's very microscopic and we can hardly notice, except that we have these sensations,’ Jamison says.”

 “Nevertheless, the link between pain and weather changes remains hypothetical; research has come to mixed conclusions, Jamison says. " ‘All the results are not very clean, meaning there are people who say that weather doesn't affect their pain.’"

“Borenstein agrees that there's no consensus, but he finds barometric pressure a likely explanation because it does affect people's bodies.”

All right, then. Since my foot pain disappeared that same afternoon, I’m insisting it was caused by the barometric pressure of changing weather. Is this old wives’ tale or Grandma’s saying about pain and the weather just so much talk? Perhaps. 

 But this old former wife and grandma says it’s true.

       c 2018, PL d/b/a/ lovepat press, Benton AR USA

Death has dealt us heavy blows

 From August 6 to September 6—we in Saline County have been affected by too-many-at-one-time deaths.

                JIMMY KANE – A true Christian disciple; my Sunday-School teacher ‘way back when I was a teenager; a fisherman, a husband, father, grandfather, friend. Greeting everyone with a smile, even toward the end. He is the namesake of the Kaneraiser’s Sunday School class. Until a few years ago, he was the long-time teacher of the Tom Scott Sunday School class. I sang in the choir during his service after we quickly learned the requested hymn, “The Last Mile of the Way.” Rest in peace, Jim.

                BETTY DAGUE – The sweet mother-in-law of one of the choir members died shortly thereafter, and Ann asked me to play for the memorial service. I was delighted to do so, honoring this beautiful woman with a quick smile that exuded love for those around her. I played the organ, the 60-year-old Baldwin organ, that I had played for many years as music director of the church. Besides her large family, many church members also paid her homage. Rest in peace, dear Betty.

                LOUISE WHITLEY – (Aunt Lou) A sister-in-law’s only remaining sister died earlier this month. All four of our brother’s siblings attended the service at Ashby’s. Since Louise had taught at the Deaf School, one of the Nutt brothers signed the songs and the messages. Louise was also a minister. Janice was given a Christian flag in celebration of her sister’s well-lived life. We sisters-in-law hosted a post-burial lunch for Janice and Bill’s immediate family. Rest in peace, Aunt Lou.

                REX HELMER, Jacksonville – This man, known to me because of his wife, Kathy, who, besides being a poet and writer, is a missioner for their UM Church. She has seen to it that I get invited to their team when and if there’s a vacancy—to their annual UMCOR trip to south Louisiana. On those years when I went, I spent the night before with Rex and Kathy and their late feline, Bob. Rex was a Vietnam veteran who served in the Air Force for more than 21 years. He was afflicted with Alzheimer’s at the last. Rest in peace, Rex.

                JOHN MCCAIN – Arizona’s illustrious senator, chose to stop treatment for his brain disease, and died one day later, four days before his 82^nd birthday. His death hit me harder than usual, because I was reading his latest book, The Restless Wave. Without sound, except for part of the church service, I scrolled through the internet’s myriad photos to get the flavor of the other services. Each time I saw Cindy McCain cry, I teared up, too. Rest in peace, Senator McCain.

                CLIFF BAKER – Brother-in-law, theater maven, all-around sweet fellow who loved everyone he met, and made them feel better about themselves—died September 6 in a New York hospital, having never awakened from a cerebral aneurysm after a week of surgeries and other treatment. He was a light in our family’s life, especially our brother, his husband. Rest in peace, dear, dear Cliff.

P.S.
And since this piece came out, two more dear ones have died: PATSY REED and GERALD BAXLEY. Condolences and love to their families.

c 2018, PL d/b/a/ lovepat press, Benton AR USA

When company’s scheduled, projects get done

 The leftover cobbler that I ladled into coffee cups has been eaten.

After that Sunday potluck, the rest of the week was free of scheduled activities. Saturday, though, I would host the monthly breakfast for the remnant of 1954 Bryant High School classmates. And it took all five days to accomplish what I needed to do before then.

Three huge projects loomed; projects I’d put off and put off. No longer; they must be done.

The first one was to clean the carpet from the hallway door to Billy’s bedroom door. I guess the milk from his bowls of cereal must have sloshed out. No telling what some of the other stains were. But while he was working, I pulled out the bottle of Resolve and a brush, brought in a pillow to kneel on, and set to work. Even without testing a corner of carpet for possible color change.

Number-two project was to put the second coat of paint on the outside of the front door. I fired the painter before he could “finish some little things.” He left large cans of Kilz and Cultured Pearl (white) paint thinking he was to paint the dining room also. But no, that job falls to me now. But first, the front door needed another coat so I could replace the vintage key plate that I’d painted gold. (This was just for looks, mind you.) I did it, plus the facings on the outside. Then I stained the faded, wood threshold step.

The third biggee was to mop the dining room hardwood floor. Warm water and a sponge mop did the trick, and after it dried, I buffed it with a clean Swiffer pad.

After those tasks were done, everything else was a piece of cake: Billy offered to put leaves in the table. Then I dressed the table and designed a centerpiece. I cleaned the bathroom, swept off the front porch, baked the scones.

Now that the breakfast is history, the only downer was the 10-cup coffeemaker I’d stashed away when the Keurig came into the house. I’d tried it out the day before and it worked. That morning, it didn’t perk. Nothing doing, then, but to heat up yesterday’s coffee, and eventually turn on the Keurig.

After the “girls” left, I decided to move the still-un-perked pot to a different plug. IT WORKED!!!  Oh, well. The "girls" will have something to chuckle over next month.

Japanese Kerria in the backyard

c 2018, PL d/b/a lovepat press, Benton AR USA