Events have settled down somewhat in Greater Pittston and, as I try to formulate a column for this weekend, not a lot comes to mind. Is it writer’s block? Perhaps.

Don’t get me wrong; there’s plenty to talk about with our political landscape in disarray on the national level, but really who wants to hear one more opinion on politics? Quite frankly, this column isn’t the right venue for that.

I can always talk about the weather. Who out there in readership land does not love the last week or so? Cloudless skies, Aqua Velvet blue skies, temps in the upper 60s and low 70s is perfect. Initially, I thought the leaves were going to change very early but it looks like that’s reversed and it appears to be delayed a bit.

I know I’ve written about the fall foliage in the past and mentioned that it is God’s palette with all the wonderful colors bursting at just the right moment. It’s the best part of fall that I truly love and can’t wait to see each and every year. I never get tired of a drive on a brilliantly sunny day with the colors at their optimum.

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High school football is winding down as are other fall sports and, with that, we relinquish our t-shirts and shorts for the comfy clothes of sweatshirts and sweat pants. Sweaters and light jackets are in vogue this time of the year and, for many, it’s a welcomed feeling.

Out go the satin sheets and in come the flannel. The sheer window curtains are replaced with the fiberglass-backed curtains. Window screens are replaced with storm windows. Plants are pulled from the garden as seasonal flowers are replaced by colorful mums.

Instead of mowing the lawn every week, it’s done every other week until late fall. Soon, fallen leaves will be raked, bagged and collected and the landscape will turn a dull gray.

By the time November rolls around, I begin to long for summer and look forward to January 1 not because I love winter and cold. I loathe winter. I look forward to January 1 to start a new year, a new beginning and I systematically have dates targeted to help me get through winter.

The Daytona 500, the tennis Australian Open are two events I look forward to watching because both happen in warm or even hot climates.

But, before all that happens, we have to get through Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Halloween in West Pittston is a pretty magical and popular time. If you’ve never been to Mike and Elaine Pugliese’s house to trick or treat, you’re missing a lot. Halloween for the Puglieses is their Super Bowl.

I noticed this week Elaine is already prepping the house with Halloween items and it’s so much fun to see. You know how some people decorate their houses at Christmas time with decorations; the Puglieses do the same for Halloween.

Their enthusiasm has swelled to the entire intersection at the corner of the 200 and 300 blocks on Delaware Avenue. Relative newcomer to Delaware Avenue, John Phillips, has gotten the bug and put up thousands of dollars worth of special affects spooky stuff.

The crowds are plentiful and borough police are on hand to help with traffic, so if you’re up for something new, you have to hit Delaware Avenue on your trick or treat travels.

Nothing says fall, outside of the foliage, like Thanksgiving. With the passing of my mom last year, Thanksgiving will never be the same, but hopefully new traditions will take over and give my children plenty of memories they could look back on like I do with my past.

I thoroughly enjoy the non-commercialism of Thanksgiving and like the fact it’s all about food and family. Waking up to the aroma of turkey is intoxicating and magnifies my senses.

The meal is usually a feast fit for a king and, by the time the last piece of pumpkin pie is eaten, the tryptophan kicks in and it’s a race to the living to see who gets the Lazyboy.

As we look back at a summer that started off wet and cold and ended hot and steamy, we can settle into the autumn months of cooler days and colder nights.

If we can just get through a mild fall until January 1, I’ll be happy. The weather service is calling for a 33% chance of above normal temperatures this winter so that also makes me happy.

Getting through January and February is pretty tough for me. All I have to do is pray we don’t get one of those surprise mammoth snowstorms like we got earlier this year.

Quote of the week

“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot — it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that, I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” – Maya Angelou, American poet

Thought of the week

“Some people think they are worth a lot of money just because they have it.” – Frannie Hurst, American writer.

Bumper sticker

“A man isn’t poor if he can still laugh.” – Raymond Hitchcock, American actor.

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My Corner,

Your Corner

Tony Callaio