I joke about the 'leafers' but I was one today! It was beautiful and refreshing... stopping every few miles to take pictures, putting the camera through the sunroof and wondering what would be captured, listening to music and watching the cyclists roar by. We drove for about an hour and a half north (about 30 miles) and stopped at Otter Peaks. The hike was too long to take today before it would get dark, so we'll go back earlier sometime soon.
On the way home I drifted to sleep with Ian Thomas playing and the low sun flashing on my cheek through the trees. We ended at the Star (on Mill Mountain for those of you who are not familiar with Roanoke), spotted Reid's house and John's Uncle's, and then headed home.
Halloween is coming up -- my favorite holiday! I showed Brett some footage today of Franklin Street in Chapel Hill from Halloweens' past. It's what I used to do on Halloween high school through college (if I wasn't in Greensboro). The last year I went was in 2003 and I had a burning itch to return this year. When Brett saw the videos he said he understood why I love Halloween so much -- Franklin Street is certainly a huge part of it.
To put the plan in motion, I talked to my brother about coming down on Friday and going to Franklin Street -- turns out only UNC students are allowed to go this year. There were too many shootings and rapes last year. I had no idea it had become so unsafe... Fall always reminds me of things come and gone, and I now add Franklin Street to that list.
This is my first year in Roanoke where I actually feel like I can enjoy the fall (for a number of reasons) but mainly for two reasons: because the weather hasn't flipped from hot to cold drastically, skipping autumn and going straight to bare trees and winter; and because I'm free from a hold that's had me the last five years.
Tonight I walked to the neighborhood 7-11 just to hear the leaves crunch under my feet.
John's right when he talks about the comfort of our Roanoke family. We all have problems. We all hate our jobs sometimes (when we actually have them). We all struggle with our families in different ways -- mostly I just miss mine. But, ultimately, right now, we have this family.
Frustrations come and go and it's nothing that deer burgers, spiked cider, and a front porch can't fix. Just yesterday Brett, John, and I, along with John's friend from camp, Natasha, all sat on the front porch while the boys played guitar and we all sang along. Ibby, our new neighbor below, dropped by with apple turnovers from downtown and copies of the books she's written. I was about to go knock on her door when I heard it open and she stepped onto our porch.
I'm looking forward to getting to know Ibby. She studied at Hollins and speaks German. She was an English major like all of us. Her husband just passed away and I'm guessing she's downsizing by moving here. She has a history I want to learn about, and that I'll catch a glimpse of when I read her books. I felt a warm feeling the first time I talked to her, and I think considering what I've just come out of as a young woman, there could be no better person to drop into my life. The first poem in her book is about young girls playing hopscotch -- hop, throw the rock, hop -- I immediately understood.
But, I digressed. Basically, the weather's getting cooler and the trees will be bare soon, but it's warm here... (now that we've found the floor heaters ;-) )
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