TomT2.0

I woke up this morning thinking October 23rd would be an ordinary day. You know—coffee, a little writing, maybe a glance out the window to see if the squirrels are still running their covert acorn cartel. But no. The universe had other plans.

It started with my coffee mug. I’ve used this mug for years. It’s dependable, sturdy, and has survived more drops than I care to admit. But today, as I reached for it, the mug slid—slid—two inches away from my hand like it was trying to avoid me. I swear it looked offended. As if it had finally decided it deserved better than instant coffee and my early-morning face.

Fine. I grabbed another mug. That one didn’t rebel, but it did give me a suspicious wobble, like it was considering joining the uprising.

Then I stepped outside, hoping nature would be more cooperative. Instead, I found a single leaf stuck to my windshield, clinging on like it had paid rent. I tried brushing it off. It refused. I tried again. It held tighter. I’m convinced it whispered, “Not today, buddy.”

By noon, I realized October 23rd has a certain energy to it. Not chaotic. Not unlucky. Just… mischievous. Like the universe is nudging you with its elbow, saying, “Hey, let’s see how you handle this.”

So here’s my advice for today: If your coffee mug tries to escape, let it. If a leaf claims your windshield, respect its commitment. And if the day feels a little sideways, lean into it. Sometimes the best stories come from the days that refuse to behave.