Yes, it’s that time of the year again when the trees begin to think about dropping the leaves they’ve held on their branches since spring so they can take a nap during winter. The crickets and frogs have vanished along with their chirping and “uhguh” grunting sounds at night. When we let the dogs out for their final walkabout, we hear only the pool noises – the three jets pushing the water rhythmically across the surface…reminding me of rushing mountain streams.

Gamecock football games in Columbia, the South Carolina State Fair setting up next to the Williams Brice football stadium, Halloween candy in the grocery store, Pretty getting out her Pumpkin decorations for her antique empire – clearly signs of the beginning of the countdown to Christmas and the New Year. I am astonished at the warp speed with which we have added another year in the life.

But what year is complete without the Cyberspace Memorable Quotes Contest which celebrates its 4th anniversary this year!

My passion for quotes rivals Pretty’s passion for antiques, and that is really saying something. More to come on Pretty’s new adventures in the antique world very soon (with pictures, too).

I’m doing something a little different for this year’s contest. Hurricane horrors in Texas, Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have dominated the headlines in recent months, and this week we have had a horror of another kind in our country involving a disturbed man firing into a concert crowd in Las Vegas creating the largest mass murder in our history. Unbelievable tragedy. Meanwhile, we have a president in the White House who makes a flippant warning that our nation is living in a “calm before the storm” without a hint of what that might mean which seems more suitable for a TV cliffhanger than real life. Seriously?

With that in mind, here’s the deal for this year’s contest. We have a theme, and the theme is Peace and Kindness. Please select your favorite quotes that address the theme in any creative fashion that you think will appeal to the judge of the contest which, of course, is moi.

Endowments have been made for the winners this year. Third place will receive the Granny Selma Award for Trying and a prize of $25. Second place will be given the Old Woman Slow Award for Close but no Cigar and a prize of $50. First place will receive the Daddy Glenn L. Morris Award for Quote Mastery and a prize of $75. Today is Daddy’s birthday, and I’m reminded he always won when we played the Quotes game on car trips from Richards to Houston or whenever he felt like random quoting.

Now then, boys and girls in cyberspace, get busy and send your quotes to me at my secret email address of smortex@aol.com. Be sure and leave your real name on them so that the judge can weigh in on favoritism. Just kidding.

The top ten winners will be published on my blog. The deadline for entries is midnight of Friday, October 27th.

Remember: Peace and Kindness is the theme and oh, btw, please make them a priority in your own lives every day.

Have a great weekend and stay tuned.