What I Miss
Yesterday morning, I did an email and phone interview for the upcoming BELLE launch. I was calm and collected; I felt good about my answers. And then, the reporter hit me with:
“I know you visit the South often, but what do you miss most about home?”
Well that did it.
The tears and sadness (and remorse?) related to making a home where there could never really be a home–in New York City–flooded to the surface, slid down my cheeks and dropped onto the keyboard.
Quickly, I decided that I was being silly. I stretched the collar of my night-shirt, wiped down my cheeks and sucked in the morning air on my patio. What was I doing? Hadn’t New York been good to me? Here, I found life, love (see previous post) and a career that paid the bills.
Still, there has always been something missing…
“I miss the easy afternoons and meals with family… I miss our farm… I miss sunsets with my grandfather out by the lake… I miss childhood friends and not having to explain myself or “pitch” myself at every turn… I miss the pace of life… I miss strangers saying “hello” just because… I miss shrimp and oysters fresh off the boat… I miss the easy life.“
And then I shut my computer and went on with my day.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am
The slow pace of life…you can’t explain that aspect of New York to people who haven’t lived there, and you can’t explain the appeal of southern slowness to people who have always lived in New York! It is what I miss the most about the south (by far).
September 9th, 2008 at 8:33 am
New York is a fickle mistress.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Well, Miss Belle, thank you for such lovely posts. Always remember that home truly is where the people you love are. And though I know you must miss your grandpa terribly, he is always with you
Good luck with your book tour. I hope you eventually make it out to the West coast.