I watched a Sex and the City episode on DVD the other day. It was the one where Carrie labeled herself as a "Bona fide City Girl" and as I went hiking on Sunday, in the middle of nowheresville, I realized that that's what I am...a "Bona fide City Girl."
As we drove through Warrenton, past Skyline Drive, down to Sperryville, and into Syria (not the Arab Republic...*smirk*) I realized how far out into the country we were. The only time I remember being that far out in the country was when we went to visit Isaac's grandma in Orange County and drove through a very narrow road (per Google Map direction) to get through to an intersection we needed to go down to arrive at her house. It was so narrow that I think I remember our car nearly getting stuck as we trekked slowly past tiny houses on hills that were far apart from each other.
But we were. We were so far out into the country that we had approached the point of narrow, winding roads again (much like the ones in Orange County) and small towns with about three stores each that were colored in faint yellows and reds. I do say, it was a relaxing and peaceful drive, but it was such an eye opener to reality in the realm of the slow-life. People had clothes hanging on rope lines (I haven't seen that in a while). Not only clothes, but socks. One guy was hangin' out in his yard, sippin' a beer, while his socks were strewn across the clothesline waitin' to dry. Clothes I have seen, but socks? Hysterical.
We take so much for granted, don't we? I mean, it's no big deal for us to throw a load in the wash and let it run for us, or tote ourselves a block down the street to 7-eleven to grab a carton of milk or tub o' butter. We were actually in the midst of people who make that milk and tub of butter and sell it to 7-eleven!
After having passed the country world we drove deep into the woods and this "bona fide city girl" did some serious hiking. It was no small feat, either: 8 miles total, up and back. Don't get me wrong. I love the outdoors. I love getting sweaty and dirty and playing sports and even getting a good cut or bruise every now and then! And buddy, by the time we reached decent we were thinking we'd all need hip replacements. And when I say we, I am referring to Isaac, Isaac's boss, and Isaac's boss's fiance (if that isn't a mouthful). They had been on the hike once before and decided to take us along this time.
But true to heart I am a city girl. No, I didn't grow up in NYC (wishful thinking). No, I didn't grow up in D.C. (nearly), but I did grow up in Manassas (regretful...KIDDING...ok...maybe just a little). Manassas is not THE city or even a GREAT city, really. It is a city, no less, but it's not a very good one. The only part of Manassas that is very dear to my heart is Old Town. Every time I take a stroll down West, or Battle, or Center, or Church street I take a stroll down memory lane. It's such a quaint town. And yes, there may only be a few stores, but they're stores that I love and stores that have familiar faces to which will always be a comfort to me. Besides, I grew up on West St., which was a hop skip and a jump from Rohr's...my favorite five and dime candy store.
Anyway, it's not a very good city. It's rather crappy in areas. There are parts that are dungy and trashy and, well, gross. Some of the houses near Hayden Elementary (where I went to grade school) are cute as well, but other than that I can't say much. It will always be my hometown, though. And I'll always love it for that. But because I have grown up in the "city" and been exposed to things at my fingertips, I like it that way. I will never be a country girl no matter how hard I try to think I want to be or how much I try to expose myself to the "simple life", this is the simple life for me: 12am ice cream runs, 2pm (or 4pm or 6pm or 9pm) coffee breaks, wireless internet anywhere I choose at any time I want, shopping on nearly ever corner, new cars, new restaurants, and new faces. I love it. Every ounce. And I don't think I'd change it for the world.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Homecoming for Starts
For Anna
Fall is, indeed, the homecoming for starts. It is the beginning of fall, the initiation of football, the start of the school year, the kickoff to autumn, the prelude to a wonder of good smells, and the time of year that begins a myriad of holidays. It presents the moment when we first think about breaking out that sweater we love so much that fits perfectly around our waist and makes us feel so warm or that sensational coffee drink that we only permit ourselves to indulge in one time of year. It is a period of joy: the air is crisp and the leaves are so pretty that we do not worry about anything else because the hope of what's to come is just around the corner.
Fall is, in one word, refreshing. It fills us with hopes and dreams of becoming better, of trying new things, of accomplishing goals, and becoming people we aspire to be. Why? Because it is much like the start of the new year, except it's not the start of a new year. It's actually, as we know, the beginning of the close to a year. I think the beginning of a new year is just a date--it really has no relevance to the timing of when we begin something new. Rather, fall holds the joys of new births.
Fall is a time when most people choose to mark their start of a new life together (I know of 5 people, right off the top of my head, who got married, or are getting married, in October). January is smack in the middle of winter. It's a dead month, a dreary month, a gray month. What if we made fall our start of new beginnings, instead?
Fall is my inspiration to dream big. It's my inspiration to be better, do better, and live better. It's marked with sweetness and color-coated events with bright lights that drive our souls to discovery. It's marked with simplicity and captivating sensations that sweep us off the floor and into the cool, breath of the night. For some reason, fall is the beginning of most things new. The calendar doesn't say so, but our hearts do--they pine for family gatherings, unplanned rendezvous, rich conversations on back porches, congratulations letters for making the team, first dances on the basketball floor, first kisses on the football stadium bleachers, first I love you's, first roommates in college, first time away from parents, first child going off to his first day of school, first real homework assignment, first A.
Take the word fall, for example. It means, "to happen or occur as if falling on something and enveloping in it; to begin to be in, or enter into, a specified state or condition; to begin doing something vigorously." All these definitions suggest embracement, beginnings, and starts.
Fall is embracement. It's embracing what lies ahead, what is to come, and what will be. It brings closeness, warmth, and love more than any other time of year. It is time to embrace today, now.
Fall is, indeed, the homecoming for starts. It is the beginning of fall, the initiation of football, the start of the school year, the kickoff to autumn, the prelude to a wonder of good smells, and the time of year that begins a myriad of holidays. It presents the moment when we first think about breaking out that sweater we love so much that fits perfectly around our waist and makes us feel so warm or that sensational coffee drink that we only permit ourselves to indulge in one time of year. It is a period of joy: the air is crisp and the leaves are so pretty that we do not worry about anything else because the hope of what's to come is just around the corner.
Fall is, in one word, refreshing. It fills us with hopes and dreams of becoming better, of trying new things, of accomplishing goals, and becoming people we aspire to be. Why? Because it is much like the start of the new year, except it's not the start of a new year. It's actually, as we know, the beginning of the close to a year. I think the beginning of a new year is just a date--it really has no relevance to the timing of when we begin something new. Rather, fall holds the joys of new births.
Fall is a time when most people choose to mark their start of a new life together (I know of 5 people, right off the top of my head, who got married, or are getting married, in October). January is smack in the middle of winter. It's a dead month, a dreary month, a gray month. What if we made fall our start of new beginnings, instead?
Fall is my inspiration to dream big. It's my inspiration to be better, do better, and live better. It's marked with sweetness and color-coated events with bright lights that drive our souls to discovery. It's marked with simplicity and captivating sensations that sweep us off the floor and into the cool, breath of the night. For some reason, fall is the beginning of most things new. The calendar doesn't say so, but our hearts do--they pine for family gatherings, unplanned rendezvous, rich conversations on back porches, congratulations letters for making the team, first dances on the basketball floor, first kisses on the football stadium bleachers, first I love you's, first roommates in college, first time away from parents, first child going off to his first day of school, first real homework assignment, first A.
Take the word fall, for example. It means, "to happen or occur as if falling on something and enveloping in it; to begin to be in, or enter into, a specified state or condition; to begin doing something vigorously." All these definitions suggest embracement, beginnings, and starts.
Fall is embracement. It's embracing what lies ahead, what is to come, and what will be. It brings closeness, warmth, and love more than any other time of year. It is time to embrace today, now.
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