In Pennies or Gold Dollars?

Where shall I spend my heart, and how much of it? Shall it be on a prince across the mountains, or on a stray dog, or perhaps a goldfish?

Shall I spend it in pennies or gold dollars? Shall I bankrupt myself, or be cautious, conserving so that I might live a little longer in less poverty?

The unanswerable question rises and falls like a dangerous tide coming in during dark hours. Autumn has been announced. It is official; whether it pretends to be summer still, or turns on us like a savage wind shaking the soul as it does the dry leaves on the maple or oak.

Nature tells us we will need extra warmth now. We do not grow a winter coat over the summer months; we need a source of heat, but is that passion? Is passion a shelter against the inevitable blizzard snows that choke places into silent submission...?

Oh, for the reassuring carpet of violets to be spread before me again outside the window, the violet lawn of spring that tells me no decision need be made on the issue of spending that which is so unused and perhaps of lessened value since the shine is off the coin, as the bloom is off the rose.

Now the wind is up, and I hear the restless shurring sound of leaves considering whether to stay through the night, or to fall gracefully when there are no witnesses. There's a chill in the late air, and a certain restless quality to sleep that bespeaks the fact of need. And I needs must check my bank balance one day soon, and reach a conclusion.

But then, there's Indian Summer yet to come, and I will buy me some time with that I think.

There are omens:

Special Weather Statement - SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR KINGS (BROOKLYN) VALID FROM FRI SEP 24 2004 09:07 PM EDT UNTIL SAT SEP 25 2004 06:00 AM EDT. KINGS (BROOKLYN) NY-NASSAU NY-QUEENS NY-RICHMOND (STATEN IS.) NY- SOUTHEAST SUFFOLK NY-SOUTHWEST SUFFOLK NY- 907 PM EDT FRI SEP 24 2004 ...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG ATLANTIC FACING BEACHES... SOUTHEASTERLY SWELLS BEING GENERATED BY DISTANT HURRICANE JEANNE HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED IN OUR AREA. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THESE SWELLS WILL CREATE AN INCREASINGLY ROUGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS ALONG ALL SOUTH FACING BEACHES. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND QUITE POSSIBLY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. HURRICANE JEANNE IS CURRENTLY TAKING AIM ON THE BAHAMAS AND THEN FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND. DURING SUNDAY IT IS EXPECTED TO CURVE NORTHWARD...MARCHING UP THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH THE EARLY AND MID WEEK PERIOD. IF THIS TRACK PROVES CORRECT...WE CAN EXPECT THE ROUGH SURF CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE ALONG WITH THE THREAT OF RIP CURRENTS. REMEMBER...A RIP CURRENT IS A STRONG BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING OUTWARD FROM THE BEACH. IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND EXHAUST ANYONE TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE CURRENT. IT CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER. DUE TO THE TIME OF YEAR...IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO FIND A BEACH WHERE LIFEGUARDS ARE PRESENT. NEVER SWIM ALONE AND ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF BEACH PATROLS. WATCH YOUR CHILDREN. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS AND JETTIES WHERE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE ENHANCED.