Dear Villagers,


October is for opals and marigolds, for Halloween and harvest festivals, for Libras and oh so much more! Did you know that October is officially recognized as National Sausage Month, National Sarcasm Awareness Month (seriously, is there anyone NOT aware of sarcasm?), Photographer Appreciation Month, Raptor Month, World Menopause Month, Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month (yes, that's a thing), and International Walk to School Month, just to name a few. But by far the most important thing in October is my birthday, and I can't tell you all how happy I am to be around to celebrate another lap in the circle of years. I am not oblivious to the hundreds of thousands of my fellow Americans who did not survive this past year, nor to the nearly FIVE MILLION dead worldwide from the coronavirus pandemic. It is a blessing to be alive and able to do things I love with people I love.

My work as a mental health practitioner in a county jail exposes me to a pretty broad spectrum of mental illness and the damage it can do to everyone it touches. It also reminds me daily how much a word of kindness, a few moments of empathetic listening can mean to someone who is struggling. "No act of kindess, however small, is ever wasted" (Aesop). I have been the recipient of so many acts of kindness (large and small) that I could never catalog them all, or repay them. To those of you in this community who have sent me notes of appreciation, of encouragement, of compliments on my writing - THANK YOU! It matters. You matter.

Two quick notes:
—PLEASE send your comments/reviews to comments4vv@gmail.com. They will be sent to the group, and posted on our Facebook page. They should no longer be sent to the "Submissions" email address.

—I have decided not to suggest a theme for November, so whatever you have that you are proud of, send it. As always, follow the guidelines.