I know the smell of the fall in this place. The air, so crisp I wish I could bottle it and drink it right up all year long. The moon high and white — sky full of stars, sometimes you think you can see them all, sometimes you wonder where they’ve gone.
I don’t remember the leaves turning such a brilliant shade of yellow. I never saw a hummingbird do a dance like the one I saw last week. Back and forth in swoops that might’ve made infinity symbols in the air if he could paint it along the way — he must’ve been trying to impress somebody. He got me.
The fields look different from how I remember them. Tufts of white, stalks of brown — they inspire photos in my heart I’d never have thought to take before.
From seven thousand miles away to the backyard of the house I grew up in, and here I am showing my little boy how to whistle with an acorn top.
{From Thanksgiving 2010}
Cold Friday night I hear the announcer, the crowds at the football field — the high school’s not far from my house. I remember this sound from a walk with my brother when I was a kid. The familiar sound of fall.
We stand outside in the cold night air with the moon high and bright, waiting at the door for two tickets to a movie, just us two. I can see my breath a little and my arms are snuggled into the coat my sister bought me last Christmas.
I see a familiar face behind me and say hello and how are you, but when I’m not sure I’m a familiar face I promptly introduce myself — I’m Dodi’s little sister.
Things have changed.
Things have stayed the same.
I watch life from the inside and the outside at the same time.
I like calling this place home.
xCC
Just a little note I want to be sure to add: I saw Courageous this past weekend. It was excellent and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend bringing tissues. I enjoyed it so much I forgot I’d snuck two brownies into the theatre in my purse. Never even touched em. Don’t tell on me. Do see the movie.
So lovely. I have same feeling sitting in my parents garden every summer. And lying in the same bed I sleep in every time I go to my gran’s house in Swaziland.
I am so glad you are happy being home!
Caroline – I came across your blog via TheHighCalling.org, and I’m so happy to have found you. I love the details in your writing. I love the leaves and the hummingbird and the acorn top. I linked over to this post from my own blog today, where I am writing about writing, and the richness of all those pesky details. Here’s a link if you are interested: http://charitysingleton.blogspot.com/2011/11/there-and-back-again-night-things.html. I try to link up with other High Calling writers every Thursday as a way to carry on conversation and create community. It was great meeting you today. Blessings!
Enjoyed so very much!