I love fall! I love everything about it. The brilliant red hues of the cranberry bushes along my faded wood fence, the fire gold of the maple tree outside my bedroom window, the first gentle frost on my deck that my dog and cats leave paw prints in, the sweet fragrance of hot apple cider simmering on the stove....ahhhhhhh. Fall makes me want to slow my life down. And last night I did just that by attending a poetry reading by the poet Jane Hirshfield held at Gonzaga University. Jane's book, "Given Sugar, Given Salt" was the first book of poetry I ever bought. I had read a review of the book and one of the poems from it in Oprah's magazine a few years back and I was completely overwhelmed with the beauty of her words. I have to tell you that last night was one of the most inspiring nights of my life to hear those same words on her voice. She read from her older works and from her new book, "After", which I highly recommend. And what I loved most of all was that she offered to not only sign the books, but she took a moment to visit with each person waiting in line. I didn't read what she wrote in my book until I stepped outside...and it moved me to tears. It was just so simply beautiful and so fitting for the change of seasons. She wrote, "May every flavor of earth fill your tongue." Ahhhhhhhhh. I love fall.