The other night after work I was walking from the bus stop to my in-laws for dinner.
They live in a quiet neighbourhood which seems to favour obese topiary balls and rose bushes with claws. Row after row of houses sit shyly on neat square blocks, almost holding hands with their neighbour, but not quite. They look out at the world through lazy half-shuttered windows and glow smugly from within.
It was a cold night and no one was about. The hum of distant traffic ebbing and flowing sounded almost like the sea while newly parked cars ticked gently. The sudden lurch of a bus on the main road silenced birds I hadn’t noticed were there.
A rich waft of sweet Daphne gave me pause outside a brown-brick Federation, renovated to within an inch of its life. A large glass and steel structure had been bolted on – no doubt sold to the Council as a tasteful addition that enhanced the classic lines of the old place. But the quaint, picketed verandah was having none of that and seemed to frown at the huge modern structure above it. I used to be enough, the old house seemed to sigh.
My footsteps tapped lightly on the footpath and the cold air slapped my face. Hurry up, the cold admonished. But I didn’t want to hurry.
I wanted to savour the moment. Just a moment. Nothing special.
Sarah says
Pretty writing – I enjoyed that moment – just reading your post. Hmm, the luxury of walking alone. I miss it!
Cindy says
What a beautiful moment described by beautiful wording.
The nighttime is special to me and walking in it even more. π
sascedar says
ooooh. lovely.
stink-bomb says
beautiful as always. your words transport you to that place, as if we are walking along right beside you..
*x*
Posie Patchwork says
Next time i’m stalking your in-laws i’ll try to pick the house, what a shame, i can’t imagine it fitting in that ‘hood at all. I hope you were layered in warm clothes, i’m getting so cold at the moment, it shudders my bones & gives me that ‘i feel like i’m getting a virus’ in the pit of my stomach sensation. Nothing a warm shower can’t fix but i’d happily skip the feeling altogether!! Love Posie
georgi hampton says
Oh this is just gorgeous. I particularly love this sentence – ‘They look out at the world through lazy half-shuttered windows and glow smugly from within.’ I just know exactly what you mean. x
wendy hill says
you had me at ‘caught in a moment’. im soooo facebooking this! x
Mum on the Run says
What a sweet, beautiful moment – and post.
Thank you for letting me have it with you all over again.
π
Gemma @ My Big Nutshell says
a perfect description. I can imagine that house, ‘I used to be enough’.
Brenda @ Mira Narnie says
oh too sweet. i love it all. i love that you found “me time” in the freezing walk to your in-laws. if only the little picket fence could talk. what stories it could tell us xx
deux chiens et un garcon says
warm heart , cold cheeks and the best way to people watch. beautiful.
xxx
Caz (The Truth About Mummy) says
Your writing is totally beautiful Maxabella. Love it. Is there a book in you?
Mrs Woog says
And she digs in deep and writes like a genius, making it look easy. Thanks for taking me on your walk. Xx
Jodi @ The Scribble Den says
Breathtaking writing, Maxabella. x
Mrs BC says
What beautiful writing! Please tell me this was the first page of your book…what happens next?
x
Life In A Pink Fibro says
We’re all waiting for the book…
Hi I'm Rhonda. says
beautiful post! truly brilliant.
therhythmmethod says
I love those moments by myself, with the stars and the wind.
Lovely writing. Must run in the family. π
Jodie Ansted says
I loved your walk in my own neighborhood.
Our street is heritage listed – obviously not quite soon enough as there are a couple of houses that don’t fit the time during which our house was built – but it maintains a lot of its original charm. A couple of years ago, a home was completely knocked down except for the very front wall – propped up to keep it from falling. Amazing.
Beautiful writing, hon.
xxx
Sunny & Star says
Beautiful writing and a very lovely picture.
P.S. We are having a giveaway over at our blog. I hope you can come over to my blog and enter.
http://sunnydaystarrynight.blogspot.com
Miss Pink says
What a beautiful night.
emma @ frog, goose and bear says
Your writing is simply beautiful. I was right there with you. Those most ordinary of moments are often the most special and we let far too many slip by.
Tammi says
LOVE moments like these π
x
Kymmie says
These moments are the best. So glad you shared yours. xx
Heather says
You can write honey. Beautiful. xxx