At November's End

Friday, as part of our continuing celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the Missus and Yours truly headed to our little paradise by the sea to officially bid November farewell.  Truth be told, there was not a lot happening at the Shore this past weekend, which is kinda, sorta just how we like it.  Other than a great few hours spent mid-day on Saturday hanging with Jill, Joe, Julia, and Rita (Sam and her #1 cousin had a romp and rumble on the beach...and all throughout Jill and Joe's house), Margaret and I spent our weekend relaxing.

My Saturday morning itinerary included a haircut and another fantastic conversation on civics, electoral politics, and current affairs with my barber, Pat, at his shop in Belmar.  Great haircut at an unbeatable price and, for free, ten to fifteen minutes of intelligent, thoughtful and thought-provoking conversation. I left there on Saturday morning not only looking much better than I did upon my arrival but, also, thinking that if I had more hair (so it took longer to cut each time I went) Pat and I might have time to iron out solutions to the world's problems.  

I cannot wake up at the beach and not go for a run...unless it is pouring rain.  Saturday, because I wanted to get to Pat's not later than 7:00 am to ensure I got a good spot on the sign-in line (no appointments at Pat's. Customers sign the sign-in sheet outside the front door and then gain entry one at a time), I went out for my run before sunrise.  My short, two-mile jaunt took me, as I try to make sure it always does, past the September 11 Memorial in Spring Lake.

It was roughly twenty-five minutes to sunrise when I stopped so I could take these few pictures, looking east over the Memorial and out to the horizon line. 

Sunday morning, Sam came with me. It was quite a bit colder than it had been on Saturday morning, even though I went out a bit later.  The sun was much closer to announcing its arrival on Sunday when she and I arrived at the Memorial than it had been when I was there the previous day.  Best photograph I got? 

She and I shared a moment of reflection with the Memorial behind us, representing the Alma mater and the Til Valhalla Project, which is an outfit that does great work and makes/sells really nice stuff, including the shirt I wore Sunday morning.

A hell of a nice way to say goodbye to November and to refuel in time to tackle whatever December shall present to us. 

-AK