Monday, November 1, 2010

November 1

I lock the door on one more year at the mountain house, to
friends and family that are in the Carolinas and Tennessee.
I close out Autumn as it is at that altitude in the Smokys.
I caravan to temps more like early summer as it is in Florida.
Closing up is a heart hard thing for me to do. Each year
seems to take its toll on me. I am never ready. Snook says
it’s because I am a mountain woman and it will never feel right.

When I open my door in Florida I am greeted with newness
on all the old things I left behind many months ago. I am
struck by how beautiful my home here is, close to ocean
and surrounded by friends and family. Autumn here is more
like early summer and I know it will get better as we head
into winter which seems like months of fall minus the show
of color and grandeur of mountain scape. I am always surprised
how much I love getting home to Florida after having such
a taffy pull of emotions before I come back. I feel wrenched
free of one beauty but I embrace another. Beaches and the ocean
beckon me and the holidays are coming. More reasons to rejoice.
Come June I know I will wrench myself away from here to head
for the mountains. I will look forward to the cool summer
there but only after I am there. I'll have to say good-bye
to palm trees and family, friends and activities that I love.

I am a fickle one, dreading the closing of each door,
feeling my heart being pulled and stretched as I do,
loving the opening of the other and rejoicing in the new
of this place, or that.

5 comments:

Mary said...

Judy, I hear what you are saying. There are so many emotions involved in opening and closing doors. I like "a taffy pull of emotions."

Diane T said...

How nice that you can lock your door in the mountain home and then open your door in Florida right now; and at another time you wil be able to lock your door in Florida and open your mountain home. Beautiful both@

Victoria said...

Interesting Judy, the way you know yourself, and that whatever change youmake will be hard, and then appreciated.

Rashmi said...

We can enjoy each place better after a break...You have beautifully explained your change.What you feel,what you expect you have portrayed wonderfully.
"
dreading the closing of each door,
feeling my heart being pulled and stretched as I do,
loving the opening of the other and rejoicing in the new
of this place, or that. "

Peggy Goetz said...

Judy you have such a wonderful spirit in your poems. I can relate to this poem and the sense of loss on leaving one loved place even though you know the next will be appreciated once you get there. Love you blog, by the way.