Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Windy Days

Today I walked up to the High Street. I had to mail a letter and I went to pick up a few things at the grocery store. I am trying to get more walking in these days for the exercise, and since the walk is mostly uphill and then uphill again, it is a really good workout. I know because I had a sweaty brow when I got there and it is a rather breezy day. LOL. I didn’t get out of breath though, so I held my own. I enjoyed the walk because this time of the year is my favorite with all of the leaves changing color. I love walking along and some of the leaves come showering down around you or fall like a path for your feet to follow as you make your way along. All of the golds, reds, and yellows are just beautiful.

When I made it to the High Street, I went inside the post office, got my postage and then dropped my letter in the big red mailbox outside. Then I walked around the corner to the grocery store. There is a wedding shop on the way and I always peek into the window to see what new things they have. I’ve been married a bit over two years now, so there is no need for a wedding dress. But it's still fun to look inside.

When I was a little girl I always had this “fantasy self” who loved the idea of traipsing around in a long dress. :-) I was fond of draping myself in my mom’s old dresses or old pieces of cloth strategically placed on me to look fabulous when I was a little girl. (laugh) I guess that some parts of the little girl are always there. I think that that is a good thing and we should always have the part of us that still daydreams no matter what our age. :-)

So I had a thing for long dresses when I was a kid, as I mentioned. And like many kids, I had a vivid imagination and was always dressing up and then I would put on plays for my dolls. Theatrical I was. :-) Anyway, I always loved to be in my dress-up finery when the wind blew. I would go out and stand dramatically on a tree stump or something, with my ponytails flying and my “fabulous gown” flowing in the wind. Once in a strong wind, I lost one piece of my dress and it landed in a bush. It was hilarious. :-)

So now fast forward to my wedding day and I had a full circle moment. We were married here in England. It was spring and the weather was pretty good. But there was a warmish breeze blowing that day and when Brit Boy and I were getting our pictures taken after the ceremony I had a memory of me as a girl. As we stood there on the golf course, with the wind whipping around us, I began to smile. My veil was flying out behind me like a mist and my dress swirled around my legs. And I thought to myself, “Well little girl, you finally got to stand in a dramatic wind with a long dress on and this time hopefully, part of your dress won’t land in that bush over there.” I laughed to myself and it helped me that day. I had just lost my mom a couple of months before and I was missing her and my dad on that day. But this thought brought me back, because I knew if my mom were alive, she would laugh along with me in remembering this. She saw me when I was a kid, doing all of my dress-ups and years later she mentioned it a few times when we would talk. She told me that she used to look out the window and see me and say to herself, “My child…my child…Lord she is creative…I’ll give her that.” :-)

So it was a good walk today. I got to do my shopping and I got to be a little girl for a minute. That ain’t half bad. :-)

19 comments:

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Not a bad walk, indeed. I wish I could walk more places around here safely, but if I can't bike 'em, I can't walk 'em.

As for the long dresses, they're great ... until you try to go down the steps.

Dori said...

LOL. You do have to be extra careful in those things. :)

Ivanhoe said...

Oh the memories... I was just going thru a few B&W photos of me as a kid and I have a dress just like that on one of them. It was my mother's and I put a ribbon around my waist to accesorize it. I guess that made me feel more like a princess since I had short boy haircut :o)

Anonymous said...

ou do have to be extra careful in those things. :)

Alicia aka "Fashiona" said...

It is so important to cherish the girl in all of us. It is what dreams are made of.

alicia
http://todaystyle.today.com/

Mike Golch said...

Dori, It is important to cheris the little child in all of us. Big time Hugs and God's blessings.

Anonymous said...

Dori,
Lovely. It's amazing how you just seem to transport us there through your words. I enjoyed the whole experience. Your mom, the leaves, the breeze, the hills, the wedding day, etc., just lovely. Thanks. :-)

Dori said...

Ivanhoe,
Yep,those childhood memories are great. I'll bet you were so cute in your mom's dress. :-)

River Belle,
Indeed. I was so proud of myself on my wedding day for not tripping over my hem. LOL.

Alicia,
You are so right...our dreams are a glance inside. :-)

Mike,
I agree. My mom always believed in that and had a twinkle in her eye. I want to live my life like she did. Thanks for the hugs and blessings my friend. I send the same back to you. :-)

Jacqueline,
I'm so glad that you liked what I wrote. :-) I'm glad that I could take you all along with me as I remembered. I hope that I can continue to paint a picture for you all. :-) Have a great day my friend.

The Silver Age Sara said...

What a beautiful story. I loved the story of your wedding dress and the wind blowing on your special day and your thoughts turning to your Mom.

I felt as though I was on your fall walk with you. Thank you for sharing.

Dori said...

Mountain Woman,
I'm so glad that you liked my story. I do find that many times in life now, whether happy or sad, I will think of my parents and I know now that that is how we keep them with us always. It comforts me now as time goes on. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the walk with me my friend.

Anonymous said...

We went for a walk in a nearby forest late yesterday afternoon. It was the perfect Autumn day with the sun shining, a breeze making the leaves flutter around us and the colours were glorious. Spring's my favourite season, but Autumn comes a close second.

Dori said...

Katie-Anne,
Your walk sounds wonderful. My two favorite seasons are autumn and spring too. Thanks for stopping by. :-)

Unknown said...

Sounds like you had a great day! And what fond memories you have of your childhood.

Elizabeth Harper said...

You did paint a lovely picture with your words...I could feel the wind whipping the hem of the dress around as if I was wearing it. Nicely done.

Incidentally, the wind was wild here yesterday too.

Today was gorgeous in Cornwall though. John and I took a bike ride to a nearby village for lunch where I had the best burger I've in I don't know how long. It reminded me of the burgers at Six Feet Under. Did you ever eat there?

Dori said...

Renee,
I do have fond memories. I spent a lot of time playing on my own and I learned to entertain myself. So I had a lot of time to dream. I had some not so great times when I was a kid too, but my daydreaming was a wonderful escape. :-)

Elizabeth,
I'm glad that I was able to convey the scene well and take you all back with me. :-)

Your day in Cornwall sounds great. No, I've never went to Six Feet Under though. Darn, I hate that I didn't now. LOL. Love those burgers! :-)

j said...

Sounds like a lovely full-circle moment.

And I have to agree with many commenters here: I was right there with you, too.

Dori said...

Jennifer,
It was a great full circle indeed. It felt like a wave coming over me that day. :-) I'm glad I could share it with you all.

Mr Blogger,
Glad you have been enjoying my blog.

Anonymous said...

I love this story of the wedding dress. You made me feel as if I were there. I am sure you were happy on that day but I know you held your mom close to your heart as you said your wedding vows.

Thank you for sharing.

Dori said...

Tammy,
I'm glad that you enjoyed coming along on with me as I reminisced. :) And it's true, my mom and dad were definitely close to my heart.