Last week was a WEEK and I went to the cabin to regroup for a bit over the weekend. (I reference “the cabin” a lot but if this sounds like Fancy Person Vaguery — Oh, we were at the beach house, dahling *finger trill* — I’ll clarify by saying we don’t actually own a vacation home, we have use of a small house on the Umpqua River which is owned by John’s parents.) It was an absolutely perfect getaway, with cold foggy mornings and rich fall sunlight in the afternoons. I ate Triscuits and drank fizzy Polar water and I wore the same pair of sweatpants for two days.

I spent a lot of time just sitting in front of the big windows in the front room watching the water flow by. A hulking grey heron came and picked his way among the rocks, looking like a piece of origami that had floated down from the sky, all pointy paper blades. Tennis-ball-shaped fruit fell at an unsteady pace from the black walnut tree in periodic thumps and bounces. At sunset gusts of wind blew a confetti of bright yellow leaves across the melting orange river where light still danced on the ripples and waves and it was one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen.

I drove to Reedsport, a nearby coastal town, and wandered in a dusty antique store that looked and felt exactly like someone’s long-forgotten attic, trash and treasure everywhere. I went to a drugstore and bought a candle that smelled the way your body feels when you look at a lit-up Christmas tee. I drove lazily, pulling over whenever cars loomed impatiently behind me, under a chilly blue sky and the thick tunnels of trees that arc over Highway 38 like protective laced fingers.

Eventually, I came home, and that was wonderful too. But it was so good to get away.

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k
k
5 years ago

Just reading this made me feel like I was right there with you. Amazing. Glad you could go regroup. :)

Suzanne
5 years ago

Beautiful imagery. I love the origami heron.

Alison
Alison
5 years ago

This sounds amazing. So glad you got to get away.

ANN FOLEY
ANN FOLEY
5 years ago

Man, the way you describe what you see out the window….so vivid!

Karen
Karen
5 years ago

Well that was gorgeous. You’re one of my favorites, Linda. I understand why some people quit writing online but I hope you never do. It would be such a loss to not have your voice in my internet life. ♥️

Amy
Amy
5 years ago

Such a peaceful experience, so perfectly described. Thank you for sharing!

(also, write another fucking novel pleeeeze)

Kim
Kim
5 years ago

You could describe any season and make it sound poetic, but since Fall is my favorite, this one got me right in the gut, in the best way possible.