Fall Foliage And Joseph's Coat of Many Colors

Procrastination - my middle name.  I acknowledge it.  I declare it to you in all honesty.  But, I wish it wasn't so.  I need a 12 step program.  Perhaps it's because I spent so many years doing "production" type work with serious deadlines that could not be missed.  There were weddings that depended upon me, receptions, holidays with hundreds of deliveries waiting to be made that let people know there were those who loved them and sent flowers as an expression of their love.  I swore never again would I work that hard. Aching back, aching feet, aching brain, sometimes 40 straight hours without going home.

So what was my next career choice?  Costuming.  Seriously.  Talk about deadlines.  Measurements, fittings, plotting the script, choosing fabrics, building costumes, deliveries, more fittings, dress rehearsals, and productions.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  Many times, there were three or four productions due at the same time.  Ten long years of hard grueling work, 14 hours a day, 7 days a week - but there were so many fantastic results.  Happy students who were proud to wear their costumes.  Lifetime friendships made.  So many wonderful productions that brought joy and happiness to so many, including me.

Now, I hate deadlines.  I procrastinate which only makes my life more difficult.   Why?  I guess it's because I want to play, to be able to enjoy each and every day my way.  But, I make promises that have - guess what? - deadlines.  Today, I should have been cutting Halloween costumes for our grandsons.  Did I?  Of course not.  Dan asked if I wanted to go out for a bit.  Uh, yes I did!  And we enjoyed one beautiful fall day that will never come this way again.  Happy?  You bet!

We headed to Cool Springs where they have the best Dollar Tree ever!  And a Michael's Craft Store, and lots and lots of places to lunch.  As we made our way around Briley Parkway, I took in the beauty of the trees, the azure sky, the sunshine, the joy and perfection of this beautiful day.  Yes, I will cut those costumes tomorrow and work into the night sewing them.  Taking this play day was worth every minute.

If you know our family, you know our children performed in many, many musicals and plays.  We are a musical family.  I costumed innumerable musicals and one of my favorites is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat taken from the Biblical story of Joseph and his brothers in the book of Genesis.  The song Joseph's Coat ran through my head as we headed down Franklin Road where there are such beautiful hills and trees.  Here is the last verse of the song sung by Joseph about his beautiful coat given to him by his father, written by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice.  If you don't know this song, look it up on YouTube.  It's awesome.

Joseph:

I look handsome, I look smart,
 I am a walking work of art.
Such a dazzling coat of colors,
How I love my coat of many colors.

It was red and yellow and green and brown, and scarlet and black and ochre and peach, and ruby and olive and violet and fawn, and lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve, and cream and crimson and silver and rose, and azure and lemon and russet and grey, and purple and white and pink and orange and blue.............

Just like the hillsides in Tennessee today.  These pictures were taken from the car as we drove.  Sorry for the streaks in the windshield.  Enjoy this tour of fall foliage.

How can this not make your heart happy?  Fill your soul?  Make you appreciate the Universal creativity that gave us such beauty.  Look at that sky!  The vibrant flames of oranges, yellows, and reds in the leaves that are so reminiscent of Joseph's beautiful dazzling coat.  If I could paint, this is what I would paint.  Instead, I will sing.  Who says life is not like a musical?  That no one spontaneously breaks into song for no reason?  With inspiration like this, we should all sing together....

It was red and yellow and green and brown....

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.  L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables