September 2026 in Review
September was a month of forward motion. The boys started new schools, the house moved another step closer to becoming ours, and I started buying furniture, sorting belongings, and preparing for a move that was beginning to feel very real. There were birthdays, dates, appointments, old friends, new routines, and plenty of excitement. There were also things we didn't do: no fall farm trips, no Turkey Trot training, and barely enough time for some of the things that usually make this season feel like ours. Life was good. Life was exciting. Life was also, at the moment, a lot.
September, As It Happened
Eight years of Holden: We kicked off September by celebrating Holden's eighth birthday with a trip to Get Air, followed by McDonald's for dinner. Naturally, the weather decided to participate. There was a torrential downpour, tornado warnings, and a memorable dash through the rain. Apparently, turning eight required a little drama.
Two new schools: Caleb officially started middle school, and I am genuinely astonished by how easily he has adjusted. I had prepared myself for a much bigger transition, but he's taken it all in stride. Holden started third grade at a new school and began riding the bus for the very first time. He's doing wonderfully, too. Both boys have handled these changes better than I could have hoped.
A frustrating health month: My POTS symptoms have been getting worse, so I finally saw my primary care doctor. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could do, and I now need to return to cardiology, where I've been told the wait could be as long as a year. I also made two trips to Urgent Care for a recurring infection. On a much happier note, Caleb saw a pediatric cardiologist about a heart murmur, and everything checked out beautifully. No concerns!
Apparently, I'm social now: I went to a drive-through animal safari as a first date (my suggestion). It was... quite the unique experience! I simultaneously loved it and was terrified for my life. I also had dinner with an old pharmacist friend I've known for nearly twenty years. It was wonderful to catch up, and he even gave me an air fryer for my new house.
Making a house a home: The home inspection went well overall, although there are a few repairs to address. I finally started shopping for furniture, too, and rediscovered how much I love decorating. It was a real passion of mine before I sold my first home, and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to do it again. My aunt has generously helped me make several furniture pickups with her truck, including some wonderful secondhand finds and even a few free pieces.
An unexpected obstacle: Unfortunately, the excitement surrounding the house took a difficult turn toward the end of the month. The appraisal came in much lower than expected, and the report contained significant factual errors. I challenged the appraisal and began working with USDA to have those issues reviewed. After everything it took to get this far, the possibility of losing the house over an inaccurate appraisal has been incredibly upsetting. For now, the outcome remains uncertain, and we're waiting for answers.
Getting ready to leave: Even with the uncertainty, I started going through clothes, getting rid of things we no longer need, and preparing to pack. After two years of living with my parents, it's surreal to think that we might actually be moving into a place of our own. I've also started picking up a few Christmas gifts for the boys. Apparently, preparing for a move and preparing for Christmas are happening simultaneously.
The little things: We made it to our monthly Bingo night at the community center, where the boys complained again, as expected. My favorite musical artists, Smithfield (a country duo), released a new album, so I've had some new music to enjoy amid the chaos.
Where did fall go? Normally, September weekends involve local farms, fried cakes, cider, and all the little fall traditions I love. This year, we haven't done any of it. I'm sad about that, but life has been unusually overwhelming. We also should have started training for our annual Turkey Trot. We've talked about running. We've discussed running. We have not actually run. Thanksgiving morning may be a humbling experience.
What I Watched
September brought a mix of comedy, true crime, documentaries, and a little science fiction. Here's the quick rundown.
TV Shows
Jury Duty ★★★★★
Prime Video · 2023 · Season 1 (8 episodes) · Episodes 1–8 · Complete
One unsuspecting juror is surrounded by actors in a fake trial. Absolutely hilarious, and it sucked me right in.
Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat
Prime Video · 2026 · Season 1 (8 episodes) · Episodes 1–5
The hidden-camera concept moves to a company retreat, and it's just as delightful as the original!
Docuseries
McMillion$
HBO Max · 2020 · Docuseries (6 episodes) · Episodes 1–4
The story of the McDonald's Monopoly fraud scandal. Given my daily McDonalds Diet Coke habit, I was especially interested, but it's kind of dragging so far.
A Killer Story ★★★☆☆
HBO Max · 2026 · Docuseries (3 episodes) · Episodes 1–3 · Complete
A true-crime case told through conflicting accounts and perspectives. Fascinating, and I still don't know whose side I'm on or what I believe happened.
Welcome to the Family: The Murders of the Adelson Family ★★★☆☆
Hulu · 2026 · Docuseries (4 episodes) · Episodes 1–4 · Complete
A tangled family murder conspiracy. A crazy case and a well-done documentary, though not particularly memorable.
Movies & Documentary Films
Project Hail Mary ★★★★☆
Prime Video · 2026 · Movie
A stranded astronaut faces an extraordinary mission in space. A well-done film, although a little long, with an unexpectedly heartwarming ending.
Cape Fear ★★☆☆☆
Prime Video · 1991 · Movie
A convicted criminal terrorizes the family of the lawyer he blames for his imprisonment. A little outdated and not particularly believable.
MoviePass, MovieCrash ★★★☆☆
HBO Max · 2024 · Documentary film
The rise and fall of the movie subscription service I once loved. I paid $10 a month and would sometimes see up to seven or eight movies a month! Interesting to learn what happened, although a little boring. I sure do miss the golden years of MoviePass.
Favorite Watch: Jury Duty ★★★★★
What I Wrote
Despite everything happening this month, I somehow published seventeen blog posts, including three One Minute Memoirs. I also launched a new series, Modern Courtship, documenting the sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating, and frequently bewildering experience of dating again.
Favorite Essay: All We Did Was Laugh
This one means a lot to me. What started as an ordinary family moment became a startling realization that the boys and I are going to be okay. After everything we've been through and all the uncertainty about what comes next, there we were, simply enjoying each other and laughing. It reminded me that we're not just getting through life together. We're making a good one. And maybe, in some ways, we already have.
Favorite One Minute Memoir: Exact Model, Exact Color
This one makes me laugh because it is so completely, unmistakably Caleb. From the extraordinarily specific Christmas wish list to his very particular expectations, every detail captures the unique, intelligent, one-of-a-kind boy he is. I love writing these little stories because they preserve the personalities of my children at this exact moment in their lives. And this one couldn't possibly belong to anyone but Caleb.
Coming Up in October
October is my favorite month of the year, and this one could be especially big. There are traditions I'm looking forward to, plans with people I love, and one enormous question still hanging over everything: will we finally get to move into our house?
- Christmas movie season begins! My annual descent into an unreasonable number of made-for-TV Christmas movies is almost here.
- Closing and moving, hopefully. I don't have a closing date, and the appraisal situation has created some serious uncertainty. I'm hoping October brings answers and forward progress. In the meantime, I'm still planning rooms, finding furniture, and dreaming about decorating.
- Broadway season begins. My aunt and I are starting another season with the Rochester Broadway Theatre League, beginning with BOOP! The Musical. We are... not thrilled. Perhaps it will surprise us.
- Hocus Pocus night. Our annual Hocus Pocus movie night with my two best friends is coming up, one of my favorite October traditions.
- The Spooky Hayride. The boys have loved this tradition since they were tiny, sometimes going twice in one season. We've missed our usual farm outings so far this fall, but I'm determined to make time for the hayride, some fried cakes, and cider.
- Halloween. My favorite day of the entire year is a little complicated this time. Halloween falls on a Saturday, which is their dad's day, and I've never spent Halloween without the boys. I'm taking them to a kids' run that morning, and if we're already in our new house, I'd love to take them trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood before they head to their dad's.
September brought so many new beginnings, along with a few unexpected obstacles. I'm hoping October brings some answers, a little breathing room, and more of the traditions that make this season my favorite.
♥
See you next month.
No comments