My Love Affair with Autumn

Picture I took back in Birmingham at the Pepper Place Farmer's Market

Do you remember the first time you fell in love with a season? I mean, seriously took note of how the earth transformed, and felt how marvelous this transition was?

I do. I was probably 9.

It was probably in late September or early October, and it was an unseasonably (for down here,) cool afternoon. I remember sitting on the cold metal staircase outside my apartment complex, just relaxing and listening to the wind. I assume no one could come out to play, and apparently I did not want to sit in the house. Actually, I never liked sitting in the house. If I have a choice to go outside or sit inside - I always choose the out-of-doors.

What I saw that day would forever change my life. The trees were swaying too and fro, and the wind was so strong that I remember my long, brown hair getting wrapped around my face and stinging my eyes. Once I was able to fully remove the strands from my face, I watched as hundreds of black birds flew in perfect formation over our home. I do not believe I had ever seen as many birds before or since. What surprises me, to this day, was how it affected me. I remember tears welling up in my eyes as I watched this marvelous natural occurrence.. my little world transition; I was simply blown away. 

Whenever I look back on Fall or Autumn (whichever way you like to call it,) I remember that day. I can still smell the dead leaves- that crispy, balsam-like, sweet scent. I remember the sounds of the "kaw kaw kaw" of the black birds, and the way the wind rushed past my ears making that "air thru a tunnel" sound you are familiar with at the beach. I remember how the sun hid behind the clouds, and how for the first time in many, many months, I needed a jacket. This feeling.. these memories.. that is when my love affair with Autumn began.

I can tell it is trying to make an appearance down here. My little herb garden has all but dried up for the season. My flowers are no longer blooming. I even have a slight cough (ragweed season,) and I feel a little bit chillier each morning. Of course, it is hot as hades down here, but just before the day really gets going, and right before I go to bed, it is comfortable again. This feeling is what I yearn for.

I have plans this holiday season. Plans to not only watch as the earth transitions, but to allow myself to transition along with it. I will probably know where my next full time job will be, and if not, it is a sign to move on again. So many good things will happen this season, and I welcome it with open arms - and a pumpkin spice latte. ;-)

Summer Memories

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James

When I was a child, summertime was the most magical time of year (outside of Christmas Day.)
Who of you would answer any other way, when asked what is your favorite season? We all said - SUMMER!

As I have gotten older, summer became less "magical" and more cumbersome. It's hot, and unfortunately, I respond in a much more  negative way to heat. As a kid, it did not bother me. I was never tired of the sun, the heat, the opportunity to just bask in all it's glory!

Whenever I get near a pool, and I hear the laughter and the splashing and the giggles, it takes me back to when I was a child. I grew up in a subdivision of town homes/condos called "Crystal Lake." My family and I lived in a building called the "Mid-rise." We were connected to the "high rise" and our home was a condo of sorts. We had two floors (the 2nd & 3rd floor) that overlooked cute little garden courtyards below us.

Right across the parking lot was "Crystal Lake." Not so much sparkling, but wet all the same. To the right of the lake was the clubhouse and pool. Oh how I loved that pool. Everyday, I would get up, throw on my bikini, grab a towel and rush out the door by 10am. Usually there was a group of kids/teens sitting on the picnic tables by the sand volleyball court, just waiting for the gates to open. We would spend hours playing "Sharks &  Minnows" or "Rock the Pool" - only to break, just briefly for a soda from the machine and a quick game of volleyball. I am sure, at some point, we went home for lunch.. or maybe not. But usually by 4 or 5 pm, we would all drag ourselves home for showers, food and possibly a nap.

No sooner than the sun went down, we all went right back out to the picnic tables or the dock on the lake. Some of the teens would be smoking cigarettes, while young "lovers" just sat together. Someone would bring their radio (I think we called it a Boom Box back then,) and we would just hang out.

As we got a little older, and little more adventurous, we would play "Hide n Go Seek" really late at night. There were tons of woods and walking paths surrounding the lake.. and we would divide into teams and actually go hide! It is kind of funny to look back at a bunch of teenagers doing this, but we had the time of our lives.

When I was a senior in high school, my family moved to a house about 4 miles away. I left the comforts of my little world that contained so much summer fun. When we moved to Crystal Lake, I was in elementary school - when we left, I was almost a young woman.

So many great memories are still floating around there. Riding our bikes down the hills, going for walks around the lake, sitting on the benches and feeding the ducks, hours at the pool and volleyball court, learning to drive a stick shift by going around and around in circles of the parking lots..... just so many memories.

At school, our community was well known. The kids from Crystal Lake were a tight group of friends - and it was hard for any "outsider" to break in.

I miss those days.. those beautiful days of summer. There is one song that always reminds me summertime at Crystal Lake.. and I am not sure why.

Here you go and enjoy... But first.. what about you? Tell me about your home as a teen during the summer.

REWIND - How Did I Get Here?

REWIND - Time to look back at one of my old posts! This next one is actually one of the first posts I ever wrote on Destination: Unknown. I think I had 2 followers at the time (my family.) LOL I thought I would share it. It's a little messy.. but I want to copy it in it's exact form!

Enjoy!

Now why in the world would I even think about describing my journey - is beyond me. But I woke up this morning feeling the need to tell my story. Not just a quick - what's happening, but a basic background on who I am - how I got here - and what is in store for me in the future.

For those of you who don't know, I was born in Georgia. Most of my life I thought of only one thing - leaving Georgia. Now, for whatever reason, I can only think of how can I get BACK to Georgia. lol Funny how things turn out.

I was born in a large town called Macon. Note I said large town, not city. It is a decent sized town. Over 100,000 - not too big, not too small. My parents got married in the early 70s - and I was born shortly there after. My mom is from Macon and my dad is from a tiny southern Indiana town called Monroe City.

We grew up middle class in the early years. Starting off - mom stayed home with me. My dad worked for a dairy company running a milk route. Both went to college, but life struck them with some blows. My dad ended up with a young wife and new born baby - and probably had to do what he could to make ends meet. He has a degree in sociology but was interested in engineering. My mom had a degree in interior design and was very interested in art.

I think our first home was a small apartment. From the pics - we looked like a happy little family unit. I really don't remember. I think later, they rented a home in south Macon. The only thing I remembered about this place was my dog - Stoney. Stonewall Jackson the Third. He was an awesome dog. I do remember one other bizarre detail - there was a little old woman who lived next door to us that always seemed to have candy. I don't know why I remember this - but I always liked to ride my little tricycle to her home (which in my mind looks like a metal storage shelter.. hmmm) and get candy.

I think the next place we ended up was a house out on Lake Tobo. My parents bought a beautiful home on Pineworth Road and we had 7 acres. I loved this house. I think they were on a financial upswing at this point. There were hardwood floors, huge stone fireplaces, french doors, a barn - beautiful piece of land. The neighborhood was amazing.. and I can imagine they must have felt like things were moving along nicely.

Then one day a little bundle of joy comes along. I was 4 - and my sister Heather came into this world. I would have to wait a few more years until I had my playmate.

Now you have to imagine - we live in the country. No other kids around. All I had were my dogs to play with - Stoney & Rebel. I remember riding my tricycle, playing with my dolls, swinging on a tire swing.. all types of random things.

I think I eventually went to pre-school - Kindercare on Log Cabin Rd. If I remember right - my best friends were Shannon and Cory. Shannon was kind of a brat - and the daughter of the school director. A few major memories stand out from those years -
1. The tornado that ripped through and we had to sit in a small room with an entire school
2. The kids eating crayons. My first lesson in ratting out the group. The teacher grabbed me (and it proves I really cannot tell a lie) and asked what was happening, I told them - and for lunch - each child was given one of those round crayons to eat - and I had to eat my real food in front of everyone. haahhaahahahhaaaa. I remember not being very hungry.
3. Having to go sit in the cubby hole for talking.
4. Watching Happy Days while waiting for my mom to pick me up from school.
5. My dad got a bad perm in the mid 70s - and he picked me up from school. I did not want to go with him, because I did not recognize him. LOL
6. I saw the movie Peter Pan, and wanted to pretend to be Wendy - so I proceeded to "walk the plank" on our front porch. (The plank was a lawn chair) and I fell into the bushes. Turns out - I broke my left wrist. That hurt!
7. My bedroom had pink walls and a mickey mouse blanket. There was a huge KISS poster over my bed. I was 4.
8. I saw the movie Grease - and would dress in my mom's 1970's clothes and pretend to sing all of the songs.
9. I had a record player (the small suitcase kind) and it had three lights on the front - disco style. I would play three records all the time: The Wiz, Grease, and Southern Folk songs. hahahaha.
10. My mom was talking Lebanese Belly Dancing classes - and would practice in the living room - I used to try to twirl with her shawl.

These are just a few of the random thoughts I remember from those early, early years. Later - I will write about elementary school years. LOL - if you went to school with me - you are totally NOT safe. hahaaha.

Until then..

Soo.. I guess I am a grown up!

Man.. when did it happen? When did I become one of THEM? Can it be true? Am I really a GROWN UP?

While visiting with my family in Georgia last week, my mom and I were talking about the age of children, from people my age. One of my closest friends has a 14 year old and she is 37. Then I looked at mom and said - WOW - you were 37 when I was 14.

How did that happen? I remember my mom when I was 14, and I have to tell you - she seemed "older" than me now. When did this whole adult thing happen?

Is it because I don't actually own my own home? I rent an apartment. Is it because I never had kids? WHY do I feel  so much younger than 37? My next birthday is in 5 months. How in the hell did I get to my late 30's and yet feel like I am at least 10 years younger?

I don't mean physically. TRUST ME - I feel every bit the 37 years I have been alive. All types of changes are taking place, and from listening to some older friends - it only gets worse. I am waaay more tired. Things are not quite are perky as they used to be, and hair seems to be a new type of nuisance. A few times I have experienced this extreme wave of heat in my face and somewhere in my mid-30s I ended up with a little acne. Yes - it is official - I am in puberty for middle age. LOL

I thought for sure I would FEEL more mature at some point. But other than just not feeling insecure, I feel the exact same. I don't worry so much about the way I look. Don't get me wrong - I do my make up, and I try to pick out cute things to wear, but I don't WORRY about what YOU think. I do it because I like it.

I still like to have fun, I still like to laugh, I still think really silly things. I can still be petty and talk about you. So when .. oh when.. will I become a mature adult?

I am taking care of myself. I have battled some sickness. I have traveled across the world alone. I've done all of that! I have meetings with CEOs, I accomplished the items I wanted to accomplish professionally... what.. what.. what is next?

Perhaps my spirit is young. Maybe that's it. I am still silly, I am still loud, I am still opinionated and I just don't take myself too seriously...

Right now, I just want to run through my office with a sheet tied around my neck, holding a yard stick in my hand screaming  - "GOONIES NEVER SAY DIE!!"

Sunday Saga

When I was growing up, Sundays were family days.

I remember it would start with me hearing someone banging around in the kitchen. Get this - it was my dad! He loves cooking a Sunday morning breakfast. I am talking the WORKS. He is a mid-westerner who moved to the south. Needless to say, the breakfast was heavy and de-lish!

Some of the smells that always remind me of Sunday morning are: bacon, coffee and my father's cologne. That's how I knew it was time to wake up!

After breakfast, there would be the mad rush to find a shoes, or feed the cat or whatever it was my parents would be running about yelling for this or that.

However, my dad found a way to find peace. I would always find him sitting in the living room, with his coffee, listening to classical music on NPR. The man I believe truly enjoyed his Sunday mornings.

Finally we would head to church. Once inside, we would all go our separate ways to Sunday School. Afterwards, we would meet upstairs and head into the sanctuary for one hour of worship, followed by me running downstairs to the swing set to begin a mid-morning rush to play with friends at the church playground.

After all of the adult socializing and kiddie socializing was complete - we would drive to my grand parent's home for an AMAZING lunch prepared by my great-grandmother.  I specifically remember a roast with potatoes. That was one of her specialities. Of course, numerous family members would come over and I would end up going outside to play with my cousins.

Life was simple. Life was good.

Eventually we would make it home and I think my parents would collapse in front of the tv. Not me - I would change clothes and head outside.

I spent my entire childhood/teen age years outside. Always, every day. No matter the weather. I would walk everywhere, or ride my bike.

I really feel such a sadness for children to day. I rarely see them playing outside, or riding their bikes. Their parents keep them sooo close. I remember taking chances, and going just a little bit further, but always learning and growing.

I notice many of the young adults I meet today (interns for work) are completely unprepared for the hard, cruel world. They were protected. They had someone right there all the time to tend to their scratches. They weren't allowed to be travel further than their property line.. and god forbid if they ever took a sip of water out of a water hose on a hot summer day.

How did I get here?

Now why in the world would I even think about describing my journey - is beyond me. But I woke up this morning feeling the need to tell my story. Not just a quick - what's happening, but a basic background on who I am - how I got here - and what is in store for me in the future.

For those of you who don't know, I was born in Georgia. Most of my life I thought of only one thing - leaving Georgia. Now, for whatever reason, I can only think of how can I get BACK to Georgia. lol Funny how things turn out.

I was born in a large town called Macon. Note I said large town, not city. It is a decent sized town. Over 100,000 - not too big, not too small. My parents got married in the early 70s - and I was born shortly there after. My mom is from Macon and my dad is from a tiny southern Indiana town called Monroe City.

We grew up middle - lower middle class. I think it depended on whether or not my mom was working. Starting off - mom stayed home with me. My dad worked for a dairy company running a milk route. Both went to college, but life struck them with some blows. My dad ended up with a young wife and new born baby - and probably had to do what he could to make ends meet. He has a degree in sociology but was interested in engineering. My mom had a degree in interior design and was very interested in art.

I think our first home was a small apartment. From the pics - we looked like a happy little family unit. I really don't remember. I think later, they rented a home in south Macon. The only thing I remembered about this place was my dog - Stoney. Stonewall Jackson the Third. He was an awesome dog. I do remember one other bizarre detail - there was a little old woman who lived next door to us that always seemed to have candy. I don't know why I remember this - but I always liked to ride my little tricycle to her home (which in my mind looks like a metal storage shelter.. hmmm) and get candy.

I think the next place we ended up was a house out on Lake Tobo. My parents bought a beautiful home on Pineworth Road and we had 7 acres. I loved this house. I think they were on a financial upswing at this point. There were hardwood floors, huge stone fireplaces, french doors, a barn - beautiful piece of land. The neighborhood was amazing.. and I can imagine they must have felt like things were moving along nicely.

Then one day a little bundle of joy comes along. I was 4 - and my sister Heather came into this world. I would have to wait a few more years until I had my playmate.

Now you have to imagine - we live in the country. No other kids around. All I had were my dogs to play with - Stoney & Rebel. I remember riding my tricycle, playing with my dolls, swinging on a tire swing.. all types of random things.

I think I eventually went to pre-school - Kindercare on Log Cabin Rd. If I remember right - my best friends were Shannon and Cory. Shannon was kind of a brat - and the daughter of the school director. A few major memories stand out from those years -
1. The tornado that ripped through and we had to sit in a small room with an entire school
2. The kids eating crayons. My first lesson in ratting out the group. The teacher grabbed me (and it proves I really cannot tell a lie) and asked what was happening, I told them - and for lunch - each child was given one of those round crayons to eat - and I had to eat my real food in front of everyone. haahhaahahahhaaaa. I remember not being very hungry.
3. Having to go sit in the cubby hole for talking.
4. Watching Happy Days while waiting for my mom to pick me up from school.
5. My dad got a bad perm in the mid 70s - and he picked me up from school. I did not want to go with him, because I did not recognize him. LOL
6. I saw the movie Peter Pan, and wanted to pretend to be Wendy - so I proceeded to "walk the plank" on our front porch. (The plank was a lawn chair) and I fell into the bushes. Turns out - I broke my left wrist. That hurt!
7. My bedroom had pink walls and a mickey mouse blanket. There was a huge KISS poster over my bed. I was 4.
8. I saw the movie Grease - and would dress in my mom's 1970's clothes and pretend to sing all of the songs.
9. I had a record player (the small suitcase kind) and it had three lights on the front - disco style. I would play three records all the time: The Wiz, Grease, and Southern Folk songs. hahahaha.
10. My mom was talking Lebanese Belly Dancing classes - and would practice in the living room - I used to try to twirl with her shawl.

These are just a few of the random thoughts I remember from those early, early years. Later - I will write about elementary school years. LOL - if you went to school with me - you are totally NOT safe. hahaaha.

Until then..