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Do you remember...?3
...those days with a certain quality of light that stays in your mind long past childhood and returns to surprise you when you least expect it? Where the air is a clear window moving with you and showing you all of the things that might interest a child? For me, it was the smell of hibiscus and old oak leaves, the hum of mosquitoes that couldn't quite keep up with our game of twilight hide-and-seek, the soft conversation and subdued laughter of the grown-ups in their chairs on the porch, the welcome coolness of the evening and exhilaration of play as we ran from tree to bush and back again endlessly. The occasional car would pass on the highway and I never thought that maybe they would envy me the way I do now.4
...and I recall those days during late summer when it would rain like clockwork - every day at the same time, gently drenching everything exposed to it. Distant thunder would roll and the heat would stick to you with the humidity. Walking through virgin Florida woodland, my dog at my side following more for the chance of finding a deer to chase than out of any loyalty. Cypress heads in small clumps with knee-deep green water spreading dark stains up their trunks. Duckweed as thick as a wool blanket covering the surface and undulating gently with every ripple. Sugar sand dragging at every step and eating up your pace, tiring your legs and feet.5
I left those days behind somewhere through the passage of life. I think I may have went in search of them never knowing how close they actually were. Now, that house with the oak tree yard and playful evenings has been sold for many years. The woodlands have been cleared for farming and citrus. All I have left are these words, these iridescent riddles, that paint a faded and pale picture.6
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What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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wow.
I've never come within 100 miles of Florida. But this was so descriptive, it doesn't really matter.And because you connected it to something bigger, namely the nostalgia of childhood, anyone can relate to this. -
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thank you. glad it could do that for you.
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Wow are you going to do more of this? It really takes me back to some really good memories. Again, your descriptions, no one can beat them.
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hey, thanks. no, I won't be doing anymore of this one. it's more of almost a poem than a story. I call these little word-bytes Verbal Paintings because I try to make them very descriptive. I'm glad you liked it.
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Excellent
This was me. Days long since gone, with family never seen anymore. How I miss those days. I think we all went looking for something that was right there the whole time! Boy do I miss them
DixieRose -
perfect
for lack of better words..this is freaking awesome. i can't even find a comment..that would fully express what i saw, felt, heard while reading this. it took me back my version of those days....so much sadness in this. and people say it gets better with time..your perception of things. but i don't want to watch people get old and grow old with them....i'm told having kids of my own will brighten my outlook, give me a piece of my childhood back. but as selfish as it seems, i'd rather live those days myself...extremely saddening to know that i can not, nor will i ever be able to. this is even more powerful because of how the world is. how its changed in just the past few years. im not that old, but it sure feels like it when i reminisce.
my blah blah comment. doesnt make much sense? can't help it..im slow
excellent job with this. in the time that i've been here, this will be the first thing i've bookmarked..sure to read it many more times.
was well worth the read.
Blu
Edited on Sep 29, 11:45 p.m. because 'im slow'. -
i have to come back to comment on this..
Blu -
What marvelous memories. What wonderful reverie. I read this aloud and savored every morsel. I would not change a word. Your writing has made me wistful, we all have our fond thoughts of sights and sounds we miss terribly when we take the time to remember. As I age and as time passes I think my mind tends to embellish the good. You have done a superb job of sharing your mind's eye and I enjoyed it immensely. Thank-you. I must disagree on one thing, you painted no "faded and pale picture".
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I guess that children are the same all over the world. The memories are of a place 3000 miles away, but they could well be mine- the mosquitoes trying to keep up with the hide and seek, the traffic (at a safe distance- here safe distances get smaller). What is so sad, is that I don't think my daughter has the same sort of impressions, much as I tried to give these things to her. For me, though, as you express here, those days suddenly throw up in bright relief most unexpectedly. The pictures are often blurred and feint these days, but on the occasions they are vivid, words do not have bright enough colours.
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These words are far more than you relaize my friend. They paint a wonderful childhood, filled with every nuance that a youngster deserves to grow and appreciate the wonders of nature. This short story is nostalgic, and each time I read it, I am taken aback. My childhood was fancy-free much like this makes one feel. This is about the third time I've read this. After the sad news today, this beautiful prose (story) refreshes my spirit. I am very glad you decided to post it here for comments. There is a wonderful calm that releases itself while reading these descriptive words.
Renee
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