Finally after a winter of adjectives that all mean gray, I felt the warm air off the lake on my face. I was looking out the 12th story window -- the one that doesn't open. Still it was not my imagination. Call it memory, if you must. Either way, my face and the lake air had connected again.I grabbed my spring jacket, laced my shoes, and left the building. It was a good seven minutes that I just stood in the sun. I was thinking of the old Ray Bradbury story, "All Summer in a Day." My thoughts were clear on the idea that, if this were the only one, I'd take a day like this to hold in my being for a long, long time.
No direction. I went walking. I suspect I was smiling. Every detail of the new spring was a new life to me. The old lady in the brown winter coat looked so uncomfortable. The man walking the golden retriever looked like he had just been let out of jail. Personally, I felt like a puppy.
Wandering aimlessly. How long since I've done that? How long since I've just let my feet choose the way?
They directed me to a tree-lined side street. I found myself standing before a red brick stately home with a Chinese garden beside it. I watched the water in the stream under the bridge, as I looked through the wrought iron fence.
When I turned to go, my eyes feel on a little patch by a tree near the street. Someone had tossed theblooms from impatiens that had fallen off the potten plant on the porch. Who knows what that person was thinking?
I only know I stood imagining the fairies who brought them there. Had to be fairies, they were too beautiful. I walked home, glad to know that fairies still hang around.
Later that night I discovered a message from a long lost friend.
Sure am glad those fairies are still around.
--me liz strauss, letting me be
15 comments:
how did you know that i've been looking for this Bradbury story, wondering the name, not remembering where I read it, but remembering the story, forever?
hmm.
Hi Jon!
It had to be the Fairies. :)
Good to see that you believe that winter ends and there are faries.
Gotta believe, John.
Life would be awful without spring and fairies.
Liz,
When we allow ourselves to "wander aimlessly," we ultimately become more absorbed with just being in the moment. And in so doing we see what normally would be missed. Those flowers were indeed a gift. That is the magic of the fairies, always willing to surprise us with simple beauty and delight. Wonderful post.
Scot
Hi Scot!
I'm finding my hope and my joy in my writing so much these days.
I'm just enjoying having you back!
How lovely! I got home last night, so tired and drained, but the sun was shining and there was all this stuff popping up out of the earth! I stopped on the front porch steps, looked across the meadow, then turned and walked back out in the fields. It revived me like a day at a spa!
You give voice to it all my dear. Thank you.
Sure have missed you, been so darned busy. Best wishes for a wonderful day!
Hi Marti!
It's truly amazing how a glimpse of nature can make the stress that we take on ourselves fall away.
We need to see more sky, flowers, and tress. :)
Awwww this is really nice. Makes me want to go to the bottom of the garden just to have a peek.
Do go. Do go. It will do your heart good. :)
I think I will. I wish you could come with me. ;o)
Hi Liz,
i enjoyed every word of this refreshing post.
over here in the tropics, there's no winter or spring, just lots of humid and hot days at the moment. i guess the fairies are giving this place a miss. :)
Hi dsnake,
So sorry it took me weeks to respond to your comment. I left the conference and went to the UK -- just got back.
I think the fairies have blessed where you are with lovely weather. One day I want to meet you there.
Liz
How beautiful those little impatiens are, Liz, thank you for sharing them ... and for the reminder that fairies are still around!
:o)
many years have past me by,
but many days ive sat and cried
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