It's the End of the World ---- Again

Just a reminder - remember back in May when the end of the world was predicted for May 21, and then, when it failed to happen, the guy said he was mistaken, and it would actually be October 21? It's almost here (Insert Twilight Zone music).

If the world does end, I've wasted a lot of time the last few days cleaning my house. It seems that now my vision is normal, suddenly I notice there are cobwebs everywhere, and fingerprints and grunge. The windows all need washing, so we can keep an eye on those mischievous neighbors, and watch deer and squirrels in the back yard. The kitchen floor could stand a good scrubbing. Don't even ask what's behind the sofa - you don't want to know. Suffice it to say I'll be busy for quite a while - unless the world ends on Friday.

It seems that more and more often these days we pick up the paper to find that someone we knew quite well has passed away. And frequently that person was important in our lives, but guess what? We never told him/her. And we wish we had.

Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon does a bit on Friday nights where he writes a thank you note, puts it in an envelope, licks and seals it. Maybe I could do something like that.

First would be relatives. We don't see them often enough, but we know they have our backs. Mom, you are the glue that holds the family together. Shirley and George, you are the missing parts of me. Cousin Julia, you are my role model.

Shirley, Cathy, Kathy, Nina, and Bob. You made working for you a joy. Hubby, daughters, grand and great grandkids, you are the reason I get up in the morning.

Erma Bombeck, Andy Rooney, Garrison Keillor, Sharon Randall, Rod McKuen and Tom T. Hall, the things you write save my life every day. Thank you all.

It's October, the best month of the year. Well, except for the ladybugs. There are colored leaves everywhere, and homemade applesauce in the crockpot. Coonhounds are baying, squirrels are burying walnuts all over the lawn, and the benches and picnic table are covered with their shells. There's a Jack o'lantern on the back porch, a pile of quilts and a sackful of books for the cold nights, and Waltons reruns every day after Jeopardy and Wheel. (Thank you, Earl Hamner.) And, oh yes, pumpkin pie is just around the corner.

See you next week!