Fall season - will it always equal flu season for me ? (:

The last day or so I have been under the radar of outdoors activity and wandering in the last rays of sun that hastily sheds its warmth turning into just a shiny globule in the sky. I have been under the weather in other words or simply nursing a minor cold and a major nuisance of highly irritated nostril area. (: We got a heater today - rather just as a courtesy gesture for my cold-burdened body & not a real solution - because knowing my body I have no doubts that the salvation will have to come from within - inner defense mechanism has to kick in sooner or later. But tons of fresh organic garlic gobbled up every hour or so should help too - I have nobody except my hubby to enchant with my elfin breath, hence - sky is the limit in garlic consumption. Today I braved to go out for a short walk - & by short I mean a really short walk- 5 blocks down Sutton Place & back along the same route. I had to dress warmly, so I

decided not to risk and wrapped myself in layers. If you saw me, you would think that I was going straight to Magadan exile or even farther. I put on, my woolen sweater with a hood, with a difficulty squeezed myself into a wrinkled coat and crowned it all with a finishing touch - turquoise-colored scarf around my neck. And triumphantly stepped outside. What I saw caused my deep frustration - people were walking around in short T-shirts and dresses. But it was too late for me to retreat from my position, so I rolled forward. Maybe having walked three blocks or so I felt the treacherous sweat coming up my neck. I felt how all the doormen sympathetically glimpsed at my decadently sad outfit, but at least I gave them some needed nutrients providing them with a curious subject for ruminations. They will be wondering whether it was some eccentric persona living at Sutton Place or just a regular girl with an irregular cold (: On the way back I had to give in and slowly started shedding my layers- first off went the hood, then the scarf, lastly the coat`s belt was undone. But upon turning around the corner I felt a sharp hug of a strong fall wind and I knew that it was him, not the sun, who was the master and the boss - and I hurried to protect my shivering body by holding the coat together... Arthur Rimbaud had his Season in Hell and nowadays we all live through flu seasons because what is more contagious than life itself???

No matter what but the life is full of blessings. And you realize it the more it punches you in your weakest spots. Today for example I was kind of running late for a job assignment in the morning, moving slowly on an express select bus as if suspended in some pseudo futuristic vehicle between earth & sky & not even daring to look at my watch (not to get to aggravated about the minutes working against me)... But everything worked out OK because my superiors were not there yet and nobody was there to witness my lateness (: A minor one just to let you know. I am still not in my dear Ukraine but the linden trees are already blossoming in NYC, much earlier than in my home country, hence giving me a sort of a melancholic preview of the aromas so close to my heart... It`s enough to close your eyes and... Isn`t it a blessing? Buddhists view life as a miracle in all its most insignificant aspects. Though I don`t consider myself belonging to this spiritual group, I do share their beliefs. So, instead of grinding my teeth in bitterness & malice on the train when the last vacant spot slips away from me because some more agile chick swings her way there, I hold on to the cold metal of the hand rail & smile to myself & to the people... (: