“September Blooms and System Overload”
I walked into the store for one thing—a Bronco’s orange and blue hair bow. I walked out with a Nix quarterback Bronco jersey, a box of Gushers for my hubby, a Silence of the Lambs t-shirt (because who doesn’t need Hannibal Lecter as part of their fall wardrobe?), and an armful of fall mums, asters, and dahlias. Apparently, I’ve entered the season of my life where my shopping cart makes its own decisions, and I just roll with it.
It was the perfect ending to a full, beautiful day. There’s something about fall flowers—the rich oranges, deep purples, and late-season greens—that feels like medicine for my soul. Growing things has always been one of my quiet joys, but after my long hospital stay, it’s become something more: a daily reminder that healing doesn’t happen in sterile white rooms alone. Green spaces, whether it’s a rooftop garden or just a pot of marigolds by the door, have carried me through.
I know this post is a little late. The past few days have been a whirlwind: juggling my new master’s program, work at the hospital, family life, and the thousand little tasks that make up “just living.” Honestly, I feel overloaded—but in the best way. I love every piece of it. It feels like proof that I am living a life worth saving.
So, while my to-do list may look like a crash course in chaos, I choose to pause here. To laugh at myself for how a simple hair bow trip spiraled into a jersey, candy, horror-movie fashion, and enough flowers to outfit a parade float. To smile at the way my porch blooms like fall itself stopped by for a visit. And to remind myself—and maybe you too—that sometimes the most important healing work is planting beauty where you can and letting it grow.
A year ago Here I was reflecting on the beauty of Fall and all that it brings. Today was no different. The air changes, the color of the sky changes, and I could be outside 24/7 and be happy. It takes focus to listen to the birds singing, flapping, squawking at each other. We are so busy running around that we forget to be in the moment and just be. I was listening to my chickens talk to each other as they zoomed through the yard and witnessed two of my hens colliding with one another. They were my big hens and newest babies to go out into the yard. For some reason they decided to pick on one another. I was imagining what they were saying to one another and thats when the reality hit me…. Why Chickens do not make good preachers! Because their language is rather foul. (Picture created with the help of AI)
Sepsis is a hard illness to deal with both during and for many years after. The initial infection took about 3 to 4 months to clear as there different fluid pockets and other things that required IV antibiotics. Recently I ended up in the emergency department because I was having an episode that didn’t make sense and I was experiencing some pain that lead me to believe I had been dealing with a UTI that was growing out of control. We were able to treat it with antibiotics and that is good outcome. A lot of other people do not have a good outcome. Please help me raise awareness for sepsis. Too many people pass away from something that is treatable if caught quick enough. September is Sepsis awareness month. Please wear red and bring attention to this illness.
