My happy place is a place I've never actually visited.
It feels like the sort of wooden porch / outdoor walkway they often have on traditional Japanese homes. It's elevated a couple feet above ground level and overlooks a grassy yard. The grass has never been mowed; it's very tall, and sways in even the most gentle breeze.
I sit here, relaxing, watching the wind dance in the grass. I think I have a big mug full of tea, or possibly coffee. I'm just sitting and watching and not really thinking about anything important.
There are some woods a little further off, and a stream beyond them. When the wind's very calm, and if you know what to listen for, you can hear a little waterfall. It's louder now than it used to be; with a little help and some contraband fireworks, a few afternoons did the work of a few hundred years of erosion, so now instead of a stream trickling down a slope we have a proper waterfall. It's a good thing.
It's very quiet, which means you can hear all the chaotic noise of nature. Birds in the trees, bugs in the grass, all sorts of critter and varmint wandering and digging in to their life. I'm not a part of it; I'm just me, some random human, sitting on the porch wearing very comfortable clothing and drinking a very pleasant drink. What else could life possibly offer?
When I read this, it made me stop and realize that every single thing you wrote about in this post describes where I presently live.
ReplyDeleteThere is a gently rolling brook not far from my office window, acres of snow-covered woods full of wildlife and we had a Bear leave its calling card on our upper deck last night. Don't ask me to elaborate, use your imagination..
Thanks for reminding me of a bit of happiness I overlooked and even took for granted!
I could feel my heart rate slow as I read. So nice. The tall grass reminded me of the wheat that farmers used to plant when I was a kid. Now it has been engineered to be shorter, more compact and efficient. Then it was long and lanky and blew in the wind like a gentle swaying and rocking that would lull you to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the country, with a porch swing. Oh yes, I like that kind of peace. I love the contrast in tone between this and the Timmy piece (which was really funny). I'm having a lot of fun in your blog!
ReplyDeleteThat couldn't be farther from the kind of place i live now, but I'm totally jealous. It sounds so soothing.
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