Where the Loons Call: Stories from a Writer’s Heart
November has arrived, and with it comes that familiar invitation to slow down, look around, and count our blessings.
Although, if I’m being perfectly truthful, there hasn’t been much slowing down around here lately!
My suitcase has been getting quite the workout this fall, my books have been traveling right along with me, and my heart is feeling especially full.
And isn’t that what this season is really about? Not the perfectly decorated table or the elaborate Thanksgiving dinner, but the people sitting around it and the memories we’ve collected along the way.
The People Who Make Life Beautiful
The older I get, the more I realize that family really is one of life’s greatest gifts.
Not because every day is perfect. Goodness knows life doesn’t work that way.
But because of the shared history, the inside jokes, the traditions, and those wonderful moments when you look around and realize these are your people.
The ones who know your stories. The ones who have been there through the beautiful seasons and the difficult ones. The ones who make an ordinary Tuesday feel like something worth remembering.
I’ve been blessed with a family I love dearly, and this November, that’s at the very top of my gratitude list.
I’ve always believed that some of the best memories are made in the simplest moments. Around a dinner table, on a family vacation, over a cup of coffee, or during a conversation that lasts a little longer than expected.
Those are the moments I want to hold on to.
Meanwhile, Between the Pages…
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper visit to Where the Loons Call without talking about books!
Somehow, I’ve managed to spend quite a bit of time reading.
Here’s what has been on my nightstand this past month:
- Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
- The Names by Florence Knapp
- The Witch by Freida McFadden
- The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
- The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Quite the literary journey, wouldn’t you say?
From historical fiction and family secrets to suspense, complicated relationships, and stories of resilience, my reading has taken me almost as many places as my suitcase.
And then there’s William Faulkner.
Oh, Mr. Faulkner. You certainly know how to make a reader work for her entertainment!
I’ve been reading The Sound and the Fury as part of my personal Rory Gilmore reading challenge. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, you know Rory had quite the impressive reading list, and I’ve decided to make my way through some of those wonderful classics myself.
Now, I consider myself a fairly experienced reader, but Faulkner certainly had me scratching my head a time or two.
The story moves through different perspectives, jumps backward and forward in time, and introduces us to the deeply troubled Compson family. At times, I found myself wondering whether I’d missed an entire chapter somewhere!
But here’s the interesting part. I loved the challenge.
There is something so rewarding about reading a book that makes you slow down, pay attention, and really think about what the author is trying to tell you.
And every once in a while, in the middle of all that confusion, Faulkner gives us a line so beautiful that you have to stop and read it again.
One of my favorites was simply, “She smelled like trees.”
Four little words, and somehow an entire childhood memory comes to life.
That’s the magic of good writing, isn’t it?
Seven books, seven very different stories, and plenty to think about. From historical fiction to psychological suspense, and even a little William Faulkner thrown in to keep my brain working overtime!
Not a bad month of reading.
A Season for Gratitude
As November settles in, I’ve been thinking about how quickly the seasons of our lives seem to pass.
It feels like only yesterday I was sitting at our little cabin in Northern Michigan, listening to the loons call across the lake, with no particular place I needed to be.
Now I’m back in Texas, the calendar is filling with holiday plans, and Christmas is already peeking around the corner.
Life moves quickly, doesn’t it?
And while I love the excitement of traveling and making new memories, I also love coming home. Unpacking the suitcase, settling into my favorite chair, opening a book, and appreciating the quiet comfort of familiar surroundings.
Maybe that’s the beautiful balance of life. Having wonderful places to go, people to share them with, and a home you love returning to.
This Thanksgiving season, I’m grateful for all of it.
For the family who fills my life with love and laughter.
For the opportunities to see beautiful places.
For books that take me on adventures without ever leaving my chair.
For the memories we’ve made and the ones still waiting around the corner.
And for the simple gift of another November.
Wherever this season finds you, I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate the people who make your life beautiful. Make the phone call. Take the picture. Plan the family dinner. Say the words I love you.
Because someday, these ordinary little moments will be the stories we treasure most.
Happy November, my friends. May your hearts be full, your tables surrounded by people you love, and your bookshelves always have room for one more.
Until next time, keep reading.
Lisa 🙂
