Shoosh...

Well, hello. I know--it's been awhile since I've been here. I think my subconscious was telling me to shoosh for a bit. There are so many of us out here, blogging away, that it just gets too noisy for me. We all get stuck in our heads and rattle around in our thoughts so much that everything becomes a set-up for the tale we plan to tell when we sit at our keyboards...and we forget to just relax and enjoy.

So I shooshed and enjoyed.

I spent quality time with my family, trick-or-treating and playing in leaves, hiking and imagining. A best friend gave birth to a miraculous baby girl and we celebrated with so much joy our cheeks hurt from smiling. Prep work has begun for the holidays and a certain sweet girl's third birthday party, which is coming faster than her mama can wrap her head around it. We were blanketed in a surprise snowfall, and surrendered to the reality of winter's fast arrival. And, as always, I ran errands, cleaned, worked, and shopped...usually with a patient toddler in tow.

In the midst of all this, I found some old friends waiting to entertain me: books, music, and television. I missed those friends. Staying away from the blogosphere gave me time to invest in them, and they welcomed me back with open arms and didn't disappoint. I listened to the Civil Wars, who gently guided me home after work each night. I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which made me aware of things I suppose no one wants to learn but, after the last page, you feel grateful for having been taught. Smart, short new sitcoms like "The New Girl" and "Up All Night" took the place of reality tv, and made me laugh after long days of chores and work and little tantrums. (These shows may be more enjoyable because they are accompanied by a cup of cocoa and a slice of shoo-fly pie. Maybe the ratings people should come up with a way to market that.)

But now I am back clacking away on the keys because I started this thing and I will keep it going. I realize it's important to share when something is felt to be worth sharing, but it's equally important to shoosh and savor the moments. Not everything has to be stated or explained right away. Once again, it all comes down to balance. Equal parts shooshing and sharing. Except for the pie and cocoa...they're all mine.