lately i've been missing california.
this year, it just hasn't really felt like christmas. i told josh that it's all this snow. it's throwing me off.
recently i started reading "east of eden" (for the first time in 10+ years) for my book club. well, that didn't help my longing for the west. i was surprised to find myself tearing up a little as i re-read john steinbeck's beautiful descriptions of the salinas valley. my home.
"The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay. . .
I remember the Gabilan Mountains to the east of the valley were light gay mountains full of sun and loveliness and a kind of invitation, so that you wanted to climb into their warm foothills almost as you want to climb into the lap of a beloved mother. They were beckoning mountains with a brown grass love. The Santa Lucias stood up against the sky to the west and kept the valley from the open sea . . .
It required only a rich winter of rain to make it break forth in grass and flowers. The spring flowers in a wet year were unbelievable. The whole valley floor, and the foothills too, would be carpeted with lupins and poppies. . .
When June came the grasses headed out and turned brown, and the hills turned a brown which was not brown but a gold and saffron and red - an indescribable color . . ."
i've lived most of my life next to so many beautiful places: monterey, pacific grove, carmel, santa cruz . . . and i miss them all. i love it here, but i'm realizing more and more that there really is no place like home.
4 comments:
I completely agree Robin!!!
Home misses you too...
The beautiful hills are turning green from all the rain we have been having this week. Yesterday the Monterey Bay was calm and smooth.
I love your new banner!
them mountains that steinbeck's describing are currently covered in snow! it is freezing here!!!
We miss you too!! Hope all is well there!! Sounds like you are having lots of fun!
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