Yesterday I didn’t post at all, and it felt odd. Much of the day was taken up with deadlines: my Living With Less column for MSN Money and a guest post for Get Rich Slowly. I took a two-mile walk. I spent some time with my aunt. I scanned a ton of family photos at Walgreens, and had a plate of ravioli at a pizzeria while I waited for the prints to be ready.
Those photos, particularly the ones of my mother, are generating a lot of melancholy. It’s going to take some time for the emotions to shake down. When they do, I’ll be writing about what I’ve learned – and what I hope to continue to learn – from looking back.
There may not be a Thursday post, either. I plan to spend the day in Philadelphia, a city where I lived and/or worked for eight years. It’s been a quarter of a century (yowza!) since I moved away, so I expect a lot of changes. Melancholy may figure here, too, since I once thought that living in Philly would provide all the answers. Trouble was, I was unable to frame the questions.
Boy, was I young.
I will stare at the downtown skyline – largely rewritten since I left – and eat a freshly made soft pretzel at the Reading Terminal Market. I’ll say hello to an old friend at the Philadelphia Inquirer. I’ll buy postcards for my great-nephews. I’ll wave at the Liberty Bell, which is not all it’s cracked up to be. (Sorry.)
And I’ll probably sweat a lot, since it’s supposed to be 87 degrees and you-mid*. Look for me in any of the city’s fountains tomorrow. I’ll be the woman with the tan capri pants, green backpack and general air of melancholy. There may also be kosher salt and mustard on my shirt. I’m a woman who wears her meals with pride.
*Approximate regional pronunciation of “humid.”
Don’t worry about us. We’ll still be here when you get back.
LIke Karla said. Good luck with everything, DF,
Sometimes we need to step back, step inside our thoughts, and let our minds take us to where we feel most comfortable, or sometimes even uncomfortable, in order to find our way again. Good luck!
Enjoy Philadelphia! I had my first child outside of Philly, in Valley Forge, PA. LOVE the area! 🙂
We all need time away, time to simply exist. Your writing reminded me that I dreamed about my own mother last night. Sometimes when we re-examine our memories as adults we can see the past and those in the past in a completely different light.
Have fun in the fountains. 🙂
As a Philly resident for over 30 years, welcome (back) to my city! I know this trip East is somewhat bitter sweet for you, but I hope the trip into the city provides a bit of brightness.