late halloween night, a drizzle is turning into a rain here, and i have many thoughts. first, though halloween is obviously celebrated worldwide even as an "american" holiday, by homesick efl teachers in every corner of the globe, its essence of young innocent children checking in with the neighbors and scoring sacks of candy is almost dead here at home. there are very few neighborhoods where people even know the children (mine is an exception)...people send their children to the mall and such places...there's tons of candy around, in every workplace, in every school, but no neighborhood street scene, no children walking door-to-door to fill up a sack, in most neighborhoods. what happened? it's a long story i guess.

november, however, is gratitude month, my favorite month, and the thing I'm most grateful for, at this moment, is just to see another november. the show-your-colors intensity turns gently into a softer essence...that's my color.

guitars between the rivers is due out in december, more good news; maybe i can hear my favorite, forrest hurd, may he rest in peace...