Saturday, October 2, 2010

Autumn visit to Idaho



I didn't get a summer vacation trip this year, but I did take a short autumn trip to Idaho last week - more like summer, as it turned out, with heat in the mid to upper 80s all week.  But the shadows were long, morning and afternoon, and the evening came early.  My younger brothers were down from Alaska, each of them for a month but overlapping for the week I was there.  My older brother and younger sister live in Idaho, so the five of us were all there for the first time in several years.  Our parents are amazingly fit - little change over the past decades, with their travel and church involvement and keeping up a very attractive house.  But they are in their 80s, which is hard to believe. 

I found myself with an odd double-vision - seeing my brothers and sister as young when they are, at least chronologically, middle-aged at the very least.  My parents seem unchanging, and I feel very much my youngish, unformed self when I am there.

The time passed too quickly.  I was back in Minnesota before I had a chance to have any real insights into the big questions of time passing, love and yearning and loss.  I also didn't get quite caught up on my sleep while I was there, then was propelled into rapid motion for the rest of the work week when I returned.

It's full-bore autumn back here in Minnesota.  I watched a swirling mass of leaves torn from the trees yesterday on campus.  For some reason it came as a big surprise.

And the neighbors are already decorating for Halloween. 

7 comments:

ellen abbott said...

We are finally getting some real fall weather here all last week and this weekend too. It was actually a little chilly yesterday morning.

I also had a family visit. Our parents are dead but my brother came down for a visit so us three siblings were together for the first time since mother passed.

Sultan said...

You are definitely a cold weather family.

Madame DeFarge said...

I'm glad that you had a good time. I also have the sense of time passing, as I realise that my parents are getting older. Which unfortunately means that I am too. Hope all well.

Pop and Ice said...

Idaho is looking very beautiful in your photo. And since it's going down to 36 tonight, I can appreciate the 80 degree weather you had (brrrr.....where's my sweater, not turning the heat on yet). By the way, what is the meaning of your banner? It's kind of spooky.

Nancy said...

Minnesota is lovely in the fall - I miss it. Although I won't miss it in another couple of months.

Mary Ellen said...

Well, folks, the weather is so topsy-turvy right now, Minnesota feels like it's still August. Pop & Ice, if you come back to check, the banner is from a photo I took of some neighborhood folks in the MayDay parade. (There's a slide show back a few posts.) It's about - both the importance of clean air, I suppose, but more the joy of relaxing into the Now, the earth's embrace, the hopefulness of a joyful community that seeks sustainability and justice. South Minneapolis culture - ex-hippies and dreamers and poets and such. People like me.

Reya Mellicker said...

I know what you mean about the double vision. Time is just another dimension, right?

Love the "breathe" banner!