Special Days

This week's Tarheel Tavern theme is "Special Days" and I've been thinking about it for a few days now, trying to decide which way to go with it. I honestly consider these early days in fall to be special. And somehow this year I'm really finding a huge amount of comfort in the change of the quality of the air and the (so-far-ever-so-slight) change in the colors of the yard and garden. Autumn has always been sort of magical to me, and therefore one of my favorite seasons. But I don't think that's what the host had in mind, so I think I'll go in another direction.

So then, there are the upcoming holidays. In a house full of children like I have, the next few months are absolutely packed with special days. There's Halloween, with its bags full of candy and unrestrained incognito-chaos, the costumed parties and the only opportunity all year to be rude enough to actually just come right out and ASK FOR CANDY! Then Thanksgiving for us all, with too much turkey, family togetherness and tryptophan naps during half-time - and of course, Christmas. In all its gift wrapped jingle bell flashing joy, our joyous trips to the battered woman's shelter to enjoy the spirit of giving (with the selfish benefit of watching those little kids' eyes light up) what could possibly be more special a day!? And added to the mix this year, somewhere in there between pumpkin pie and eggnog, will be the birth of another baby. Is there really anything more special than that? First cries, first feedings, isn't there something simply gorgeous in watching a newborn baby yawn - tiny little fist curled and drawn to its beautiful little lips?

So what have I decided to do for this week's Tavern theme? I haven't decided a thing, there are far too many special days in life to pick just one...