Here's the scene from my movie today. Driving to work, it's a drizzly gray day. The leaves are almost at peak foliage, and a flock of Canadian geese are flying in V formation up above the treeline. I feel energetic and full of possibilities for today. I get to work, 2 of my co-workers have called in sick, and one friend's father died last night. It's very October.

No, I haven't given up, just been away. In North Carolina, the landscape near the mountains is actually quite a bit like Vermont. And the small town stories seem to have similar themes. Like how people hang out at the corner store and drink the same cup of coffee for three hours, just shootin' the breeze when there's nothing goin' on. But the scary part is all the signs on the road advertising "Tent Meeting 7:00", or "Revival Meeting Oct 6". Maybe in their speak it's similar to "Ethel Atkins Honorary chicken Pie Supper", or "Rummage Sale, Grange Hall". I wonder if they have food at the tent meetings. Actually I hope they don't. I can't think of worse food. Please don't make me go there again.