Sometimes, the love I feel for this city of mine overwhelms me. Enough that I have to let a tear leak out and grab a tissue to blow my nose. These emotional moments do not usually crop up with looking at the beautiful architecture or eating the delicious food or listening to some soul-satisfying music. Sometimes those do it to me. But it's more likely to be the subtle moments that grab at my heart.
Feeling comfortable enough to leave through the side gate of a local coffee shop - despite the vines that grow across the gate, it's the route that lots of regulars take. It's not that I go there that often, it's that I've gone there that long.
Seeing someone familiar walking along the street, or in a shop... someone I've seen for years, but never met.
Taking in the abundance of the nature we host here. Or I guess the nature that hosts us here. It's been slammed and dented, but it carries on. The flowers, the trees, the wildlife.... When living in Hawaii, I often marveled that so many leis could be made every day and there were still flowers on the trees. We don't have such an industry here, but I marvel nonetheless at the lushness of it all.
These moments that make me tear aren't that special in themselves, but more in what they mean: that I'm home.
I know what you mean. I have to see the NOLA magnets on my fridge every morning in order to start the day off right. I miss it so much. There is just something magical about that city. You are lucky to be back. Now I'm tearing up. Sniff, sniff.
Posted by: MamaGus at May 11, 2007 07:08 AMHome in a place with so much culture and that has been through so much. There is a silent strength in that, which deserves a happy tear at times.
Posted by: FFG at May 11, 2007 07:42 AMYour writing makes me miss it even more... thanks for articulating what a lot of us who aren't there are feeling.
Posted by: natalie at May 11, 2007 09:48 AM