Happy Friday, RISERS! Greetings from somewhere in the Caribbean. I hope this week has been good to you. My family is on the final day of our Fall Break vacation. We needed to disconnect from the “working world” for a while, and I needed some uninterrupted time to finish my novel. It’s my heartfelt wish that you enjoyed some “you” time this week, too.
Happy Birthday to all of you who turned a year older this past week. And Happy Anniversary to you and your loved one for reaching another milestone year together.
Quote of the Week: “If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.” –Victoria Erickson
Joke of the Week: What kind of tree is good at math? A geome-tree!
Composer of the Week: Sometimes it’s fun to go a totally different direction with music. I’ve showcased composers before, and in my opinion, Mozart is the BEST. This week I want to mention a fall-themed song by Antonio Vivaldi. “Autumn” is one of the violin concerti in his Four Seasons series (along with “Winter,” “Spring,” and “Summer”). This concerto’s three movements combine energetic and rhythmic components that depict a harvest festival dance as well as a slow movement that seems to usher the cool air and reflective, crisp mornings of autumn.
Nugget of Wisdom of the Week: In place of a new nugget for this week, I wanted to add something to last week’s post about emergency preparedness. I meant to include the need to set up designated meeting places for your family members, in case you get separated. When my husband and I were foster parents, we had to have an emergency plan on our refrigerator so that all of our kids (including the bonus children) knew where to meet in the event of a fire, severe storm, flood, or other crisis. We chose the driveway of the house across the street as the place we were to meet, where we could be safely out of the path of first responders. Other possibilities could include a nearby school bus stop or even the family vehicle, if you live in apartments with a large parking lot.
It is important to have a list of current descriptions of your family and pets. Also, keep a list of any vital medications, so you can easily get them refilled on short notice. If you have children with conditions such as autism, who might not be able to talk to rescue workers, list as much information as possible that would aid the workers.
As founding father Benjamin Franklin famously advised fire-threatened Philadelphians in 1735, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This familiar maxim has become a fundamental tenet of the field of prevention science.
Recipe of the Week: I have no new recipe to share, but if you choose to accept this assignment, ENJOY something pumpkin spicey this week.
Shout-Out of the Week: This week, I want to give a shout-out to everyone working in freight management. Because of the work you do, we were able to enjoy our cruise, and goods reached their destinations. It’s not easy work, and you are greatly appreciated.
Have a great weekend. Remember, you are most awesome, and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.