It's been difficult for me to write here lately because everything I might say seems so inconsequential, given the state of things. While all is well in my personal life, I am increasingly heavy-hearted as I watch the world fall apart around me.

There is plenty I could say about the presidential campaign, but I won't opine publicly. I am near nausea from all the political commentary spewing from columnists and commentators and bloggers, not to mention the crap coming from the campaigns themselves, and I refuse to contribute to the jibber-jabber.

Is it possible to take it all too seriously? I bounce between wondering if we are already so fucked that this election actually doesn't matter a whit, to believing that all that is good and right in the world hangs in the balance of this decision. I guess some might say the truth lies somewhere in between, but I fear that's just denial talking.

Now that the final debate is over, I am officially tuning out. Nothing helpful is going to be thrown about in the next couple weeks anyway, and I'm confident in the choice I've made. I crave silence now. This fray is fraying my nerves.

We're taking a 3-day escape. No television, no internet, no radio. We are driving in the mountains and hiking to waterfalls and admiring the vibrant colors of autumn. And in those changing leaves is a reminder that time ticks on. For better or worse. The leaves will soon wither and plummet, and the landscape will look dreary and devoid of hope. But there's still life in the trees, still potential that lies deep within. And with the right conditions, bright hopeful buds may eventually emerge again. Time will tell.