Fall has debuted for the year 2010 with a much needed reprieve from the intense heat and humidity of Summer. While Summer holds a special place in my heart always, I am relieved to step out the door in the morning and not have the breath sucked out of me for the stark contrast in temperature and moisture, between the inside air conditioned, and the outside Au naturale!
Here in the tropics summer is best enjoyed indoors, or wet! Fortunately it's not far from here to a beach, and that is where you'll find me along with the natives on days that offer freedom, and freedom will be stolen in moments on days that don't extend the offer. The beach draws the spirit, it's sun shines brighter against a sky whose blueness demands longing appreciation, tempting, even taunting, until one must give in and retreat to the shore, even if only from the front seat of the car for a quick peek along it's edge to admire the white outlines on the blue and green liquid peaks and tubes. It's enticing beauty is year 'round of course, but Summer is the best gettin' wet time!
Traditionally, Summer is also the best time for some traveling. My preferred mode of transport from here to everywhere is four wheels on an interstate paved with anticipation and a change of scenery. Off the beaten path is where the best treasures of the land present themselves though.
As we (my parents and brother and I) ventured north into the middle states, and then over to the east again, I particularly enjoyed the farm lands neat, straight, sometimes undulating rows of tall corn on the flats and hills of unending acreage, as far as the eye could see, surrounding clusters of old farm houses and silos and barns, beautiful barns. I saw perhaps for the first time, real beauty and character in those barns. They seemed to be the heartbeat of the whole farm, where the life of it actually flowed from and back to on a daily basis. Some were pristine clothed in coats of red or white paint. Some had roof shingles arranged in various patterns and colors like fashionable all weather hats. Some had huge advertisements painted on the side to be seen by the drivers on the highway, making them a 3 dimensional billboard of sorts.
But the barns I really looked for and got excited about seeing were the unpainted, with warped weathered gray wood boards whose large gaps allowed daylight to show through from the other side. Maybe there had been fresh paint on their boards at one time, but that was years ago, a lifetime removed, when the family who tended the farm was young, and barefoot children fished in the pond, and rode horses, and whittled sticks, and their laughter, and the drone of Dad's tractor drown out the sound of the cars that whiz past now on the interstate. I could completely imagine the lives that those barns may have once represented, I could almost see the activities of the farm and it's inhabitants as the sun illuminated dragonflies over now un-tilled fields.
As we drove deeper into the heart of America, through these fields whose barns twisted and sagged with age, there unexpectedly rose towns rich with more history, and cause to again imagine the lives of previous dwellers. Rough hewn stone churches with intricate, Gothic, stained glass windows, and towering ornamental steeples broke the skyline. Fancy dark red bricks and painted clapboards on houses with stately porches and columns made it easy to imagine neighbors gathered on porch swings and rocking chairs while flapping a lazy paper fan and sipping iced tea or lemonade. Front porch sitters who were at one time the wealthy town folks, the doctor, town mayor, veterinarian and department store owners. These lined up in a prelude to the ornate store fronts at the hub of a once bustling main street now only half occupied with assorted local merchants, or last hold-outs like the post office, drugstore or bank. Most of the locals now resolved to a Saturday trip to Wal-mart in the more populated town up the road a piece, the wealthy having left for more prosperous greener pastures in the big cities long ago, taking with them their wealth, leaving only the regular folks content to breathe the country air.
We visited a forest. We call wooded areas in the tropics "forests", but in comparison to the woods of the north it is clear they don't deserve such a lofty title. The height and density of the northern woods hides secrets from all the rest of the world, secrets that are willingly shared with anyone who enters and searches. Even the search is easy, really as if the forest life is just waiting excitedly to show itself off! Tall trees sway and leaves rustle as the wind blows them against each other in a standing ovation to us for visiting. Flying insects pass closely to have a look at us, attracting our attention they light nearby, so we can have a closer look at them. It's an interaction of mutual interest. Inch worms, woolly worms, and caterpillars just go about their business, hesitating briefly when they sense our presence may be too close for their comfort, but after a moments hesitation continue on with the task begun.
Sunshine through trees projects patterns on the forest floor that move as the pattern makers move, creating a constantly changing display of light and motion. Combined with the sounds, the critters, and even the fragrance rich with green growing aliveness, it is a theatre, every moment a premier.
A surprising rush of chilly air breaks the heat and humidity of this particular day as the sun came out after a rain, catching us off guard until in our curiosity we find we are at the top of a descent into the mouth of Mammoth Cave. We had a guided 2 hour tour of the 55 degree interior of the cave scheduled for the next morning.
Just before dusk, we started to spot deer, as we caught a peripheral glimpse of movement, we'd point out to each other where to look. Dad saw a deer up ahead a little in the woods near a clearing at the end of our trail where civilization would again greet us, and said "look, right there, you see him? See that lady in the red? he's just to the left of her. When we got up the path a little farther we laughed to see that the "lady in the red" Dad was talking about, was in fact a fire hydrant! That's a good example of the upside of senior vision!
Kenny, son #6 turned 23 that day. It was a great day, 23 years ago, presently, and all the days between!
We left the forests of Kentucky with renewed appreciation for the beauty of creation, and great memories of our time there.
Continuing our trip we passed a huge towering white cross against a blue sky of puffy clouds. Water towers proudly announced the name of their towns, and cityscape's upon entrance, exits, and just skirting the edges, provided interest unique only to that place.
We spent time with family, both in our vehicle and in multiple states.
There were sisters in Illinois, with charming homes to share. I stayed with Aunt Gloria, I love her name, and I really like her house. It oozes vintage country charm, with wood floors that interact with each step, 1 bathroom that had a lazy in no hurry to fill the bathtub faucet, the television tuned in to Shirley Temple movies on Saturday night and bluegrass gospel music on Sunday morning. For 3 days I was quite literally in a different world, and loving every minute of it!
All 3 Aunts had lovely flower gardens full of colorful northern summer blooms, and the butterflies that were attracted to them seemed to want our attention, but usually not so long for the camera to prove it!
My cousin Michelle saddled up her horses for an evening ride in the back 40, accompanied by her golden retriever and miniature daschund. That tiny little dog leaped up and down through and over knee high grasses for at least half of our ride before he was too tired to continue and had to call it quits, what a funny determined little thing he is!
The following afternoon was spent at Aunt Helen's, who rustled up some fried chicken and fixen's for lunch. We attended Sunday morning service at Aunt Betty's small country church, gathered for lunch at a local restaurant with the whole group, and ended our visit with goodbye's in the parking lot. We were on our way to the brother's house in Indiana.
Uncle George and Aunt Katie were already hosting Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy when we arrived on Sunday evening. We filled their large home with people in every room and no space left over. I was given the honor of using the "Katie" room, where 3 generations of Katie's have slept. Pinks, whites, flowers, antiques and bric a brac decorated the entire room in a frilly feminine haven, mine for the duration of our stay!
One evening was spent reminiscing over black and white photos of the boys as children, and younger men, each injecting their own unique memories of the people, places and times. So much life lived to be fitted and stored away now in a box and envelopes, it was good to have had the experiences, and it was good to re-live them, even if the specifics were a little unclear, or a name forgotten, even if just for the moment.
Meals were enjoyed out on the 2nd floor deck overlooking a beautiful green lawn with more of those northern flower beds full of flowers and butterflies.
There's a trail through the woods that Mark (my brother) and I walked on, leading down to the lake, the same lake that Uncle George captained his pontoon boat on for us one evening. We admired the impressive architecture of the homes on the lake, docked at the marina for supper at an outdoor restaurant on shore, and boated until we'd had our fill of the sunset and night lights. My 75 year old uncle was like a youngster showing us his cool new gadget, he was gliding on life as we glided on that lake, I've never seen him happier and more relaxed, it was a moment of our lives well spent.
"Little" Katie Georgina (my cousin, named after both her parents!) and her husband Mark came one evening to visit, and all in all I think we discussed, debated, and solved pretty much all the problems of the world in just those few short days!
Next stop Ohio where we had a safari scheduled, who'd a thunk, a safari in the midst of the rolling farm lands of Ohio! "The Wilds" is 14 square miles of conservation and preservation of endangered species of exotic animals and plants and even insects, recognizing their important roles in the unique design for health and productivity of each other and the environment. We toured in an open air bus, our driver was a retired school teacher who told us several times how lucky we were to have literally all of the animals come very near to our bus for the best views, and photo opportunities. She was ready with lots of information such as this interesting fact that I had never heard, white rhino's all poop in a common pile! They create for themselves a specific area designated to be their "outhouse" shared by all, and we were the lucky witnesses to this unusual phenomena in action!
Our trip took us next to the reason we planned the whole thing in the first place. My nephew Jedediah David decided he should marry his best girl, and so we ventured to Pennsylvania to witness the occasion.
We scheduled a stop on the way to see a play called "Joseph" at the Millennium Theatre. It was a beautiful production, a well scripted arrangement, professional singers, actors, costumes and sets. No detail was left unattended, including us hoping we could come again for a future performance!
With yet more time to fill up on vacation type activities we toured Amish country. Walked along rows of antique stores, admired the inner workings of the Amish lifestyle and the function of their homes and farms, and enjoyed the calm of the culture.
Between Amish country and Jedediah's wedding, was Hershey Pennsylvania, well maybe not right in between, but not so far that it wasn't worth every mile farther to get there, of course we went! Chocolate should be given it's due respect. When I was a kiddo my parents took us there. We toured the Hershey plant, saw the production of the various candies the company made and in the end got a free candy bar! I remember how good it smelled there! Things are done differently there now, some things improved on from a touristy point of view, such as the 3D chocolate movie, that made me scream! It was great. and the tour is now a ride like the ones at Disney where you cruise in a little "car" through the animated story of chocolate making, which includes some interesting history about Mr Hershey and the beginnings of his company. For instance, he and his wife never had children of their own, but loved children, so they started a school that operates still, for children of lesser means to be able to obtain a fine education, and he started and failed at candy making, finding on further efforts some success with caramels before moving to chocolate and making it big! Of course the highlight of a visit to "Chocolate World" is the chocolate they still give away!
Jed married his sweet heart in a ceremony officiated by his Dad, my brother Dave, and had a dance off at the reception with his new Father-in-law, and if I say so myself, did win, but not without stiff competition! And with that, another family gathering drew to an end.
So we began our return to the place we call home, filled with love for the Creator, love of country and love of family, knowing we were fortunate for the experiences.
All the time in the car made it possible to knit a scarf, take photos, most of which were too blurry to keep, read some magazines, and work a couple puzzles. There was candy to savor, snacks to crunch, and moments to doze.
Home again after 4000 or so miles, and a good nights sleep we added up the credit card receipts to figure out the cost, it wasn't bad at all for what we were able to do, and it seemed it had already quickly become part of the history of our family. I was ready to plan another trip, this one had been so good!
Which brings me back to where this started, Fall. My windows are open, I hear the birds chirping, lawns being mowed in the distance. The weather is so beautiful that yard work is actually a pleasure instead of the burden it can be in the overwhelming heat of summer. I imagine the leaves will be changing soon, maybe even as I type these words, and I would like to see them, it's been too long.
I have been contemplating a trip up north, to visit friends that I didn't get to see on the already filled summer trip, and haven't seen in a couple of years. I have time off from work here in October. Yes, I think a trip is in order, just as the summer corn rows called out to me, and the forests, and the architecture and the barns, and the butterflies and the rhino's, and the aunts, uncles and cousins, I hear the wooing of the colored leaves of fall, Patty, Patty, Patty, come, come to us Patty, we won't wait for you, we haven't long, come.
I hear the call.
I really hope I'm able to accept the invitation!
P.J.
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