September 28, 1996
It all became clearer as he remembered....
Whoa! Frost on the pumpkin this morning! Getting cold. Soon comes the snow! Yeah! We got fog and fog and fog for days right now. It's 0613 and the proverbial sea poop is curling through the streets. Which, when you live by the sea...
I was thinking about Fall's I have spent in New England. I remember going on a Sunday drive on a rainy October day. The drive up from Wilmington was very nice 'cause a lady I had company. Just out for a Sunday drive. Ya know? Anyway, we decide to take a turnoff 'cause Connie and I are both about to pass out from lack of food. So, we're cruising down this state highway, and we run into this area where the trees are brilliant yellow. A really gorgeous fall that year. So we keep driving and run right into Princeton (no, not my Alma Mater). And, we're looking at each other like we just drove into Tibet off the Garden State Parkway. We had no idea we were so close to the place. Maybe at this point you are beginning to realize that Connie and I weren't from around there, and that neither of us got out much....
So we kep driving on into the downtown/Campus area and the trees seem almost on fire evn thought it's pouring buckets of rain. The streets are covered in this yellow carpet of huge (Maple?) yellow leaves. We spent the rest of the day walking in the rain, drinking tea and enjoying Pizza and stromboli's at this great place somewhere in town. It was a great day. The kind you can't plan. And the temperature and wood smoke and that "Fall" feeling this AM are stoking those memory fires big time. By now you may be wondering how New Jersey got promoted to being in New England. I lived there for 8 years and I didn't hear anyone say we we're in New England. Whatthehell'sthematterwithyou? Youse in Jersey man! Jeez!
I was born in Hanover, New Hampshire. The male parental unit was teaching at Dartmouth at the time. Snow for a toddler in New Hampshire is your best dream come true. Snowplough mounds big enough to tunnel into with a shovel. Snowball fights that seemed to last forever. Hot Chocolate like Ambrosia to make Zeus green with envy. Sledding until the dark became impossible to navigate through. Walking across the snow ON TOP of it 'cause you don't weigh enough to break through. Seemingly endless parties at home, school, friends houses. Everything in slow motion because you're too young to have been through too many of them like you will later. Halloween Trick or Treating, cutting out Turkey's in school to put onthe window, those breathless days of anticipation until - The magic of Christmas! (I know I'm being shamelessly euro-centric and probably convictable by the PC Police on about a hundred other counts and I don't care :-)
And now ain't this odd. The Moody Blues "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" is on. The ghosts are mixing it up now. I'm reminded of the video for that song. I seem to remember that Justin does NOT get back with the woman at the end. Is that what you remember? I thought it was a pretty bum note to end the thing on. After waiting since the last video that the whole thing started with and not to have a happy ending. Hell, there are enough Greek tragedies in life without seeing them on MTV or VH1!
So, anyway Fall is a good time of year for me. I think it's my favorite time. Winter is good as long as you can get out and enjoy it. Snow up to your (optional expletive), woods and mountains. But the Fall is when you get the best of both opposite seasons. There is still foliage and it's cold(er). How can you lose? Spring has never had me looking forward to it cause the heat is coming. Oh, most days you can't help but be overwhelmed by the sights and smells of new growth but it's not a season I look forward to like Fall. Anyway, the sweaters come out, jackets you can wrap up in get shaken out of storage, heavier socks to keep you feet warm and big, clunky shoes to go stomping around in the rain, mud and snow with. I think I get such a kick out of hauling out the winter clothes is because of memories of being warm inside them. After a day in the woods, rain dripping/falling on you, and coming back to somewhere you can get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, warm up and curl up like a bear. It's big time instinctual.
There is this tea called Lapsang Souchong that is a fantastic smell and taste experience. It smells like wood smoke and tar but tastes rich and full bodied. It hits it's peak as a popular tea in the days of the clipper ships. If you're up for a strong taste, try it. It's kinda like the Guinness of teas. IMHO. Got a strong tasting tea with body that you care to recommend?
Human beings are so funny. I include these little mailto's: in pretty almost every entry. Gotten about 1 email from them. And that was from a close friend. I see them in other people's diaries asking for the same thing - Write!!!!!!! I don't write when I'm browsing someone else's diary 'cause I don't want to intrude. Maybe I don't want to appear stupid (too late Drew!). Anyway, I don't do it. I don't get email from browsers 'cause I'm obnoxious, opinionated and shallow. Do you get any? Email damnit!!
This concludes the Norman Rockwell Does Acid Remeberance Hour Theatre episode for today.
Drew
</RANT>
Copyright ©1996. Andrew T. Green. All Rights Reserved.
.....Are you completely sure you haven't left somefthing at the Cleaners?........
