the place I come from… 

A // W // F

“I think what you notice most when you haven’t been home in a while is how much the trees have grown around your memories.” — Mitch Albom

  
It’s been quiet here at alpha // whiskey // foxtrot for the last few days, and that’s because I’ve spent those days in the company of my people, in the place I call home.

I’ve been thinking and dreaming, scuffing around the lawn with my camera, staring up at the trees. I met my new nephew for the very first time, and watched my sweet niece tear around under the canopy, screeching and laughing the way happy children do. I walked out in the dark to the deafening chorus of the peeper-frogs in the swamp — astounded, as always, at the noisy, unashamed way they sing themselves into Spring.

And meanwhile, I’ve been thinking about what’s Next — because Home is good for that. 

I’ll write more on that subject later, but for now, I thought I’d share a few brief snaps from my time here…

Take a breath this Monday morning, and enjoy:

  
 
   
 
 
❤

27 Comments

  4. Lovely photos!
    Every time I visit my mom in Portugal and spend time in my childhood home I do the same: reflect/think/consider. I often make big life decision after I come back from there. I wish you all the best for what’s coming next 🙂
    And it’s funny to read that quote, because now that I think about it… when I go there the first thing I look at is the garden – to see what’s new and what changed!

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    1. Isn’t it funny how that works? I think sometimes family and home can be a kind of touchstone where we remind ourselves both who we were and still are and always will be, and also what’s changed.

      The trees are always bigger around here. They look very old, wise, fat and happy. And there are lots of new saplings too. Makes me smile. 🙂

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    1. Thank you! It’s wisteria, and in the summer the purple clouds climb in masses up that tree.

      Processing … The quick and lazy kind. 🙂 I think these shots might be lovely with a gentler hand tending to them at some point, but I rely pretty heavily on actual light to get things done, and haven’t always learned the art of editing very well.

      Maybe someday I’ll invest a bit in myself and take some classes … Or better yet, maybe I’ll get lucky and meet a photographer/mentor who can work side-by-side with me for a bit. I’d love that. 🙂

      Happy day to you!!

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  6. It’s a blessing to be able to go back. But, it’s odd. Nothing ever stays the same. We change. The place that isn’t supposed to change, changes. Maybe the going back is what throws all of it into sharp relief. Sometimes, it’s painful, but there’s always goodness there somewhere. Thank you for the beautiful photos. They are reminding me that I can go back today in my heart.

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      1. I don’t go back as often as I would like. I’m from north-central Connecticut. I grew up in a suburb or Hartford, which I always associate with poverty, gang violence, and drug wars, but my town was an average bedroom community of working and middle class folks. It’s been a long time since I lived there, and many things are changed, but many things are still the same. Often, when I go “home” these days, I go back to Boston or northern Mass, where most of my people are, but my parents still live in the same house I grew up in.

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        1. Funny, how our conceptions of home change over time, and how the place itself changes, too.

          You’re right: it can be painful. And also beautiful. And sometimes (but not always), we can reclaim a place that’s been hard to us, if the timing is right.

          Here’s hoping we both carry home inside us, and make it a safe place where we can be true to ourselves and at peace. ❤ 🙂

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    1. Ha!! Probably just lazy processing on my part — although there are plenty of legends surrounding this place that make one think of horror stories. 🙂

      Mostly, I just find the swamp haunting and quiet and serene. It’s not for everyone, but I enjoy it. 🙂

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    1. So, crazy thing: Chesapeake is (always) warmer than Roanoke, but this weekend it was close to 70!! (Which is what brought out the peeper frogs). I saw daffodils and hyacinths and even a redbud tree coming into bloom. 🙂

      Feeling grateful.

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      1. Daffodils? Wow, almost too early. I was thinking what the french is for daffodils, searching disk, searching… Ah: Jonquilles I believe. very different names but both perfectly represent the flower. 🙂

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