Thursday, January 05, 2006

What I did on my winter vacation

Just got back from a tour of Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. We never spent more than 2 nights in any one place, but I got to visit my hometown (that's the defunct 99-cent movie theater in the photo), Lenox, Stockbridge, Cambridge. I love that cold, dark, snowy little corner of the world.

When I lived in New Mexico in the mid-90's, I must have flown home for the holidays. I just don't remember it. But what a pleasure this time. The plane came in low over the farmland that borders Bradley Airport and looking down, I saw large snowy fields bordered by maples, each with a little lighted farmhouse in the center and snow on the roof. And, just because the scene was so perfect, I'm going to say there was smoke coming out of those chimneys. "Look!" I said. "it's New England!"

When we got down to the little baggage claim, we saw crowds of families greeting their arrivals. Rosy cheeks, laughter, embraces. Mom and Dad in the crowd. Sometimes life forgets itself and hands you your own Capra moment. The trick is to stop and take it in. And then remember it, when you're back in your quiet office, two weeks and 3000 miles away.




7 comments:

Mona said...

That's great. Glad you had such a good time. Looks like we swapped for Christmas. I left CT for the west coast and you did the opposite:) The weather was nice for you though, right? I was kinda wet all week in Carmel but that's ok:) Getting to your meme..finally!

Mona said...

And you might not realize this, but looking at your profile and liking how you had a paragraph up about you inspired me to finally put up my rating system. THANKS AMY!

Lisa said...

What a beautiful post. Makes me want to call my mom and I almost never want to do that. Sniff.

Pat & Reg said...

Welcome back to Calif. Sounds like you had a nice holiday.

Gil Martinez, RGD said...

Love your post. I'm sorry I missed you when you were up here :(

Butterbemme said...

Yes, it's nice to come home again. Especially with the landscape you wrote about.

Mona said...

Finally did the meme today. Come and check it out:)