The inside of our cottage is like that for me. I can remember certain areas of it. I remember the brightly lit kitchen with it’s large windows overlooking the river and the smells and gurgles of the old fashion peculator brewing coffee for all the adults. But other areas of the inside I can hardly recall. What did the bathroom look like, were there two or three bedrooms–I just cannot remember. It’s when these memories escape me that I especially wish my parents were around still so I can ask them how things really were. But in the end I guess I have to trust in my own vision of how things were.
What I do remember the most about my time at the cottage is being outside and enjoying nature and feeling connected to the earth. I remember walking barefoot on our property, running down the hill from the gravel road, hiking on the trails and in the woods, fishing with my dad, and picking wild berries with my mom and my “aunt” (she wasn’t a blood relative aunt, but one of those family friends that was so close that you just called her aunt). I remember running and jumping off the pier and swimming with my cousins in the rocky river. I can still smell the bonfires and taste the roasted marshmallows. (It’s no wonder that one of my favorite all time smells is the smell of leaves burning and this is due to autumns at the cottage.) I remember the huge trees all throughout our land and the one that held my swing and the smaller ones that I climbed. I remember exploring the abandoned A-frame on the top of the hill (at least my cousins and I thought it was abandoned). So many memories and so much fun.
When I am reminded of these memories I find myself wanting similar experiences for Aidan. I want him to have an expansive area to just explore and feel free to roam. He is definitely my nature boy and my tree hugger and I want him to really feel this connection to the earth and to all of nature.
Celeste says:
What a nice memory. Aidan really is a Nature Boy and I love him so much for that. I have to give you and Mike credit for encouraging him to take an interest in learning about nature with the Earth Scouts and Life Learning. The compassion that children learn from their parents will stay with them their whole life. My other grandchildren Anna and Sean are raising money for Help the Starving Children by selling Lemonade over the holiday week-end of July 4th. How proud can a Grandma be…not much more then Me. P.S. …..cute picture.
May 29, 2010 — 2:57 pm
Christine says:
Thanks for you comments. Aidan definitely has a love for nature (and animals, which I'm sure he gets some of that from you!). I'm glad to hear that Anna and Sean are doing their own fundraising efforts–Feed My Starving Children is a good organization to help out.
June 1, 2010 — 1:07 am