Sunday, October 15, 2006
Fall is here and as many of my friends post about the crisp leaves and hot apple cider, I know what's coming.
The darkness of winter. It creeps in my head like a late afternoon shadow. I can't stop it. In the daylight, I can see the leaves and smell fall in the air, but I can't stop the panic as every night comes sooner. I can't stop how as the temperature lowers so does my desire to get out-- out of the house, out of bed, just out.
I loved fall as a kid. I loved the changing of clothes from summer to fall. I loved crunching through leaves and drinking hot chocolate. I still love fall, but only in the daylight.
I love that many of my friends know this, and I don't have to explain my mellow mood or sudden quietness. I love that they come here because they know I won't leave. You have to love friends that will meet you halfway.
The darkness of winter. It creeps in my head like a late afternoon shadow. I can't stop it. In the daylight, I can see the leaves and smell fall in the air, but I can't stop the panic as every night comes sooner. I can't stop how as the temperature lowers so does my desire to get out-- out of the house, out of bed, just out.
I loved fall as a kid. I loved the changing of clothes from summer to fall. I loved crunching through leaves and drinking hot chocolate. I still love fall, but only in the daylight.
I love that many of my friends know this, and I don't have to explain my mellow mood or sudden quietness. I love that they come here because they know I won't leave. You have to love friends that will meet you halfway.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
The power of music to transport you through time and space never ceases to amaze me.
Last week, I was at Best Buy and I saw this album:
It took me back to Bloomington circa 2000. I bought the CD because I never owned it. I just always listened to Beth or Lyndsay's copy. As I put it in the CD player, I am quite certain that I was transported to the small closet of a middle bedroom, sitting on the floor typing on my Brother word processor. I can almost guarantee you I was typing something for my Social Studies methods class. I also am almost certain that I was eating Twizzlers and drinking a watered down fountain soda.
It really made me miss that whole time period. With its fountain soda runs, our neighbor, Matt's sudden appearances, Red Hot Valentine Show nights, getting drunk for the first time on cheap wine, Sarah's cleaning sprees, Jodi and her ELL students, Survivor nights, General Tso's chicken, Halloween Trick or Treating from the second floor, signs protesting towing, hanging out with Jed and Gerkin, runs back to Lincoln on Wednesday nights, crazy trips to Champaign, smoking cloves on the back porch, Beth playing her guitar . . . I could just keep going.
Man, I haven't milled those memories around for a long time.
"I'm trying to tell you something about my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you've ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously
Its only life after all"
- Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls
Last week, I was at Best Buy and I saw this album:
It took me back to Bloomington circa 2000. I bought the CD because I never owned it. I just always listened to Beth or Lyndsay's copy. As I put it in the CD player, I am quite certain that I was transported to the small closet of a middle bedroom, sitting on the floor typing on my Brother word processor. I can almost guarantee you I was typing something for my Social Studies methods class. I also am almost certain that I was eating Twizzlers and drinking a watered down fountain soda.
It really made me miss that whole time period. With its fountain soda runs, our neighbor, Matt's sudden appearances, Red Hot Valentine Show nights, getting drunk for the first time on cheap wine, Sarah's cleaning sprees, Jodi and her ELL students, Survivor nights, General Tso's chicken, Halloween Trick or Treating from the second floor, signs protesting towing, hanging out with Jed and Gerkin, runs back to Lincoln on Wednesday nights, crazy trips to Champaign, smoking cloves on the back porch, Beth playing her guitar . . . I could just keep going.
Man, I haven't milled those memories around for a long time.
"I'm trying to tell you something about my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you've ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously
Its only life after all"
- Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls
