Late summer nearly forgot to come, but now it has brought wildfires with it, to make sure we do not forget to notice that it came. Smoke haze fills the downtown atmosphere with sunset light at midmorning, as an orange ball peers down from where the bright October sun should be. And now, with all the smoke blocking the sunlight, it's much cooler today than it has been earlier in the week.

It feels like eclipses feel, a strange level and quality of light. Such things always make me expect that the rest of the day ought to be different also, that everyone should come out of their office buildings and stand outside and look at the sun and the smoke, and strike up conversations with strangers, like children let out of class.

no? no. ah well.

contents of the purple tricycle are copyright 2003 carrie lynn king unless otherwise noted.