Speaking of Magnolia Trees:
The one in front of Neff Hall, that valiant Southerner far from home, is still waiting for its blossoms.
Missouri is just at the edge of where magnolia trees can grow. In the South, these trees tower and shade and the white flowers dangle among the dark green leaves. In front of Neff Hall the magnolia tree is shorter, it looks stooped, like it is trying to make the best out of its lot in life.
Speaking of transplanted Southerners:
It’s 74° in Dallas, Texas. I picture that a warm breathy breeze is blowing across the North Texas plains. The stars are out and lights are glowing in the open windows.
There is warmth and the very beginning of the idea of a Texas summer, which is hot, filled with bright sunlight and evening thunder and lightening, but perhaps no rain.
And I want to be in Texas so bad I can taste it. There is something there that centers and grounds me. More than the familiarity of home, more than the place where I grew up. There is space there, room to think and breathe.
Maybe it’s the fact that a day’s drive can lead to the Piney Woods, tall and green, to the rolling hill country with its scrubby trees, could lead to the coast painted in sea greens and blues, could lead to the Davis Mountains. The fact that in all those different places you would still be in Texas, still be home.
Speaking of Summer:
Right now it’s 59° in Columbia and maybe all my longing for Texas is just coming from the fact that I am cold. It really galls me to be able to wear long sleeves in the middle of May. I’m hoping that the heat will get here soon. But until then, I’m going to snuggle in under my blankets and read.
5.16.2005
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5 comments:
sara i don't even know if i would call what we have going on in texas "summer" yet. we haven't even gotten to triple digits yet. summer is when it's 90 degrees at 10pm and you have to sprawl under the fan to sleep at night.
on another note it is interesting to me how at home people get with their climate. already this year i have talked to several people that were complaining about the heat. of course none of them grew up in this climate and hence can't handle our summers of 60 consecutive days above the 100 degree mark without a rain cloud in sight. --ryan
Are you out of your addled Southern mind? If I hear you longing for heat here in Columbia one more time, I'll be the first person since the 1920s to box someone's ears. It's going to get plenty hot here without you goading it on.
-C
Ryan is correct - until it is 90 at 10:00 pm it is not hot...or summer. Dallas is pretty hot...but do you remember Houston? Exiting a building and having the heat and humidity literally take your breath away? Oppresive heat. I like it though, and I would gladly move back. The oppresive heat is MUCH better than winter. Kansas City gets pretty warm and even a little humid - but it is bush league compared to Houston in May - much less August or September.
The second poster - the one who is going to box your ears truly doesn't understand. People here think it gets hot.
The IDEAL place is the hill country. Actually - San Marcos is the perfect town. Halfway between Austin and SA, spring fed rivers, pretty country and a college. The climate is good too (except in August and September - but that is ALL Texas).
dear sara's brother--- obviously you know what i'm talking about as far as the weather of texas goes. i call august and september vacation. have you ever been to schiliterbahn that is the only place to be in august and september...i could ride the river all day--ryan
Ryan - EXCELLENT post. Tubing on the river is a great way to spend a day. My goal is to retire there...next year. Either there or Brenham...gotta love Blue Bell.
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