Posted by Serenity in seasons | 11 Comments
Gorgeous. Wish you were here.
This is my street right now. For REAL. Only today there were even more yellow leaves just covering it.
This has been the rainiest October I remember ever. And the rain has brought me down more than once. It’s disheartening – all that forgetting what sunshine looks like. Plus, the stress of getting kids in and out of places when we only own one tiny, cheap umbrella. And don’t even get me started on what it does to my hair.
But look at these colors! When the sun does shine it’s so painfully beautiful that I think I would lose my senses completely if it looked like that every day.
I worked from home again this week because of Drew having The Fever. That’s what I like to call all unidentified sicknesses, because it makes life feel like Little House on the Prairie. Which, while I’m on the subject, does this whole H1N1 thing sound familiar? The plague is coming. Towns are running out of the antidote, i.e., the vaccine. People are getting the plague like crazy. AND THE CURE COSTS 125 dollars. We’re one Albert and a gospel song from getting quarantined in the blind school until we find the source, People.
But anyway, oh Lordy did I miss going to work a few hours a day. But whenever I’d feel myself going completely insane from talking only to my computer, I’d just look up and out my windows at this.
Which casts a gorgeous golden light into the front of our house. And then, of course, I would imagine calling up my boss and saying – this is a pretty cool job. But I quit. Because I feel frustrated and insane looking at the computer but perfectly, wonderfully at peace when I’m looking at this tree.
Do you think anyone ever did that? Quit a job to look at their trees? No. Because that would be really ridiculous.
Which is kind of what I’m saying. These colors make me want to be ridiculous. And get away with it.
Here’s a compromise. Your orthodontist used to take off two weeks every fall and go to South Missouri to watch the leaves turn. You could do that and just stay home. (and not be able to buy groceries, of course. But let’s not be rational today).
I think Anne Shirley would have quit a job to look at trees. Or at least, she would have wanted to.
Those colors are truly gorgeous. And the title makes me think of the line from French Kiss – “Beautiful! Gorgeous! Wish you were here.”
Katie! You compared me to Anne and you got my French Kiss reference. Awesome.
And, Mom, taking time off to actually watch them turn? Now that is living deliberately.
Ahhh. My little “new housing development” saplings don’t have nearly the charm of those trees on your block. Someday they will, I guess.
Wow, this is making me feel very lucky. We are leaving tomorrow to spend three days in Southern Missouri on Table Rock Lake. The leaves should be very pretty. We will only be there for a few days, so I suppose we don’t get to actually watch them change colors, but I am looking forward to it. And there is something to be said about being near a lake — the water has a wonderful calming effect on me.
Your street is gorgeous! It makes me want to sigh, stare at those pictures, and think of other pretty things. I agree with Katie. Anne would probably have quit her job to look at trees.
I hope your boys all feel better soon…oh, and I wondered what movie that was from. French Kiss. Ah!
Hey Serenity,
I know I’m late stopping by, but I just wanted to say a big CONGRATULATIONS (!!!) to you for finishing the first draft of your novel! That’s such a big accomplishment. Writing fiction is nearly impossible–I’m trying to work on something now and every time I sit down at the computer with my characters I feel like I’m in junior high again and we’re all at a school dance and I want to run SCREAMING OUT of the gym and hide in the bathroom. Oops, sorry. I’m letting my insecurity show.
Anyway, good for you!
And the photos are so beautiful. Every time I think about going back to work teaching full time so our budget wouldn’t be so tight I think, “But I couldn’t stand to miss the leaves changing.” I want to savor every sight–squeeze the color right into my brain.
Becky, yes! That’s a wonderful description of writing fiction. From one memoir girl to another, hang in there! It gets better. The first draft was in some ways torture every time I sat down at it, because making things up felt – well – silly. But I’m starting the revisions now, and instead of making my characters up I feel like I already know them. It’s not so daunting anymore, and therefore much more fun. And some things are just worth a tighter budget, aren’t they?
After gazing at natures artwork, on your quaint little street, I am now going to live today in an irrational manner. Good Lord do I love an autumn painting!
so pretty!
Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just zoning out there for a moment, mesmerized by your trees. I love living in San Francisco, but I miss the fall colors like nobody’s business.
Maybe I can come over for a cup of tea and a nice chat and we can just stare at the trees. Doesn’t that sound like heaven?