At last, the weather is turning and the sun and all of its
charming glory has made an appearance - a promising appearance. For months on end I have longed for wine and
book reading in London’s
perfect parks with handsome man ‘o mine, basking in the sunshine and reeking of
grass stains and summer happiness. All of Britain becomes tiny ants emerging
from their grand mounds, emerging from the darkness and into the light. Away
with the heaviness of wool blends and hairy jumpers and in with neatly painted
toes and hats to hide our cheeks and noses from the elements.
Afternoon walks consist of countryside of golden perfection
for miles, my eyes squinting at its brilliance. It is hard to believe something so
pleasing to sight can wreak havoc on allergy sufferers. The childish spirit
within gets the better of us and running amongst the yellow, handstands in full
and laughing until we are breathless is a priority. No such act of regret
follows whilst toting a handkerchief for nose blotting the following day. It
was well worth every ounce of merriment.
And, while England has its charms this time of year, I am reminded of all I miss in southern Mississippi during the
summer months. I imagine iced tea brewing in the back yard sunshine and the
pong of swimming pool and chlorine contaminating the once unmarked air.
Sizzling grills with over-priced beef despite the semi-vegetarian lifestyle I
now lead. I pine for the clatter of water dripping from hanging baskets filled
with heaping ferns and flowers that my mother cares for using careful attentive
hands. The bright colours of
butterflies, the hard summer rain and listening from my parent’s front porch swings as it
pelts the saturated earth– knowing fully that soon another family member is
sure to join, with conversations of how the earth ‘sure did need this rain’.
Southern accents. How my brother can pronounce the word, ‘ice’ using not one
but three syllables. Today, I yearn to
greet my father as he returns home from a day of fishing on the river, gleaming
with delight at the fish he caught and seeing his excitement as he prepares
dinner for our family. Yet 5,000+ miles and an ocean between us makes that
impossible.
For now I bask in the English sunshine and a warmth of memories within my heart.
you describe it better than I experience it.... I miss you!
tell you what - if you give me a weekly assignment, Ill try to take a pic of it for you, so you can at least have that
Posted by: Addie | May 02, 2008 at 01:56 PM
It's funny isn't it? The things we take for granted...you long for crepe myrtles and ice tea, things I see every day and barely notice. And I long to see the place of my ancestors...a place you now call home.
Maybe one day I'll get there...
Posted by: Darlene | May 02, 2008 at 09:24 PM
by the way...absolutely beautiful photos...
Posted by: Darlene | May 02, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Your descriptions make me ache for the green and yellow of the English countryside and the hanging moss of the southern states. But all I have is brown desert and grit. I miss the seasons so much sometimes.
Posted by: Vegas Princess | May 04, 2008 at 03:21 AM
Love your blog. We have LOADS of yellow fields around here ... can't move for 'em!
Posted by: jellybelly*jellybrain | May 04, 2008 at 09:52 AM
i love your photos, especially the second one.
Posted by: cindy k | May 04, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Once your heart is in the south, it never leaves.
Good thing y'all can take it with you where ever you go!
Posted by: sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | May 05, 2008 at 11:12 PM