Hommel Mangas
The leaves are starting to change hues and tomorrow we wake up to October. Quickly and quietly, September 2023 simply turns into history.
To September I say, “Adeus, Au revoir, Adios, Goodbye.”
Not all of it was unpleasant — actually 98% of it was pleasant — but that 2%-ick seems to weigh down and hide the pleasant like an ugly, heavy tarp.
To remind myself of the September pleasantness, I present the 98% list:
After my 17-month-old-grandson flipped the TV remote behind our 6,000-pound sleeper-sofa (a remote he is trained not to touch at home, and technically he didn’t touch it; he bumped it with a toy, while looking at me from a side-eye) I found a treasure. Three days later, when I rented a crane to move the couch away from the wall, I wood-mopped up one intact goldfish snack, two microscopic dust bunnies and one bewildered and obviously lost Fisher-Price man with a yellow cowboy hat and orange body, who obviously never asked for directions when he left the group. I was quite delighted to find him and the smile never left his face when I rejoined him with the rest of his people that were still lined up on the bay window from three days prior.
I had the pleasure of attending an 80th birthday party for Randy Goodwin, an Indianapolis Hosta Society friend. Steve and I concurred on the long drive up that we wouldn’t stay long, but we quickly changed our minds because we laughed, conversed, and listened to the humorous travel adventures of Linda Williams, who led GardenTravelers for nearly 30 years. What a lovely evening! It reminded us both that we want and need to celebrate with family and friends more often.
On Tuesday morning Bible Study, I was reminded in our study of Colossians 3:12-14 — “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive each other if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
As I reflect on September, it actually was full of pleasantness along with some ick — and for that I am thankful.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
