one fall day

Music class in the morning with the kids, then a trip to the zoo with some friends. One of the last dry days of the season. The warmth of the sun mixes with the crisp fall air. Rust, amber, persimmon and the forest green of the pines color the hillsides. The energy of the zoo animals today matches that of my kids. Polar bears and sea lions swim right up against the glass. The baby elephant (3 months old and 450 lbs yikes!) teases his 1/2 blind "aunt". Shir Kahn the tiger paces and growls along the edge of his enclosure. And the giraffe comes almost close enough to touch. After the zoo we have lunch downtown with Chad at the Elephant Delicatessen. We eat mac and cheese, tomato bisque, a wood fired pizza and coconut macaroons. We talk about things that make us happy, our kids mainly. Then we walk back to the car under a cascade of falling leaves. It was a gorgeous fall afternoon.