three


Portolano had a sample sale last week
 they'll have another 
at the beginning of December
 if anyone is interested

 I took an early lunch
walked to their office/warehouse/sale site
 on a brisk sunny late morning last week 

yes
 I got two pair of cashmere gloves
 at a delightful discount

 purple
 both pair

 yes
 I go to their sale every year

 yes
 every year
 I buy more gloves pashminas and occasionally gifts

 I have 
Raynaud's Syndrome
 sometimes called Raynaud's Disease
 frankly
 'disease' 
seems
 a misnomer

 I've had it 
for 
years and years

 it gets worse
 as I get older 

used to be 
only a few fingers 
on one hand 
reacted
 to the cold

 now
 its both hands
 and
 my feet

 I am lucky

 lucky
 to have a 'disease'
 a syndrome
 that worsens?

  Yes 

 Why?

 Because
 many
 who have this 
feel tremendous pain
 when the circulation
 returns 
to their 
white weird looking fingers 

I don't 
so
 I consider
 myself 
lucky

 Gloves don't stop it 
likely 
they make no difference
 but 
I wear gloves
 beginning in the fall 
through 
the winter 

What's all that have to do with this photo?

 on the way back from Portolano
 I was waiting
 for the light 
the red hand 
(reminded me of how red my fingers turn after the blood returns)
 to turn green

 I looked up
 and 
took an iPhone photo
now
I'm
 sharing it 
with 
you