I have to work hard to think happy thoughts about November. It was once a great time for me. It’s usually a beautiful, colorful month, and the weather is not terribly challenging yet. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah are joyful and often exciting holidays. The fall season (late September and October 31–yes, Hallowe’en) gave me my parents and I married my true love on the 26 of the month. So what can be bad?
After 15 good years and another ten kind of mediocre ones, the marriage failed. Both of my beloved parents died in November. My dad was only 54; believe me, that took some getting over. Now, when the frost comes and knocks out my few remaining blooms, it’s hard to believe in spring.
There is a “cure” I can recommend–I began to do some literacy tutoring recently. The two second grade boys with whom I work are so delightful and charming that for that hour and a half, I feel like a million.
ElderChicks 
Oh, Mary, what a season we are in! I love the “cure.” There is nothing that matches service to others as a healing activity, especially when you realize that what you are doing is changing a life. And nothing like knowing that a child is better off because of you.