It's another splendidly cool crisp Fall morning today. The only problem with this is that it is early September and technically still summer.
I am enjoying this brief bit of sweatshirt weather before things heat up again as I am fairly confident they will shortly.
The nice thing is that the a.c. has been of for almost a week now and I don't see the need to turn it back on in the near future.
While it is at times a necessity, I am generally not a fan.
I enjoy having the windows open and letting the fresh air do its thing.
We are a few short weeks,less than 3 actually, from the High Holidays. 
There is something different for me heading into the holiday season. 
I feel like maybe I am taking the opportunity to prepare for the holiday this year.
In the past, no mater how much I think about it, and how much I try to plan for it, the holidays seem to just suddenly appear and I am scrambling at the last minute to be ready for them. 
It's is as much , maybe more of  mental preparation than the actual physical preparations.
Yes the house needs to be clean.
Yes there must be some outfits to wear to shul.
Yes there are meals to be prepared and there is the interruption of my daily running of my bushiness and financial commitments.
All of these seem to be well under control at this point. Sure there will be some last minute shopping and stuff, however for the most part I think I am in pretty good shape regarding all of this.
The mental part of the season has always been a challenge to me.
Whether it was rushing to get stores set up or stressing getting late production out the door, year after year I would find that literally right up until we sat down for dinner on Rosh Hashana, I had not granted myself the gift of emotionally and spiritually preparing for the New Year.
Bam!
Rosh Hashana.
Bam!
Yom Kippur.
Bam!
Sukkot.
Bam!
 Simchat Torah.

Before I knew what hit me it was mid October and Halloween was upon me.
The Jewish Holidays were done but the holiday season continued.  
Bam!
It's my birthday.
Bam! 
Thanksgining.
The New York Halloween show and then......
Bam! 
Chanukah, Christmas and New Years.
For me it is a 3 1/2 month holiday season that sneaks up on me and then in a flash is gone and I am heading off to the yearly Halloween Show in late January followed by the cold of winter and a frenzied selling season.
 I always feel like it sneaks up on me and I am running from behind trying to catch up to connecting to this fabulous time of year.
I can say with out any hesitation this is absolutely my favorite time of the year.
Maybe this year I can actually find a way to enjoy it!
Shabbat Shalom!