Where I’d like to be
We’re having fitful, tempestuous, Wuthering Heights weather: pelting rain and hail, tree-thrashing gusts of wind, bursts of silvery sunshine dazzling every bead of water on the leaves and raising clouds of steam from the roofs, then another front blustering through to lash the branches and fling rain at the windows again.
I’d like to be curled in a comfortable chair with a bottomless mug of decaf Earl Grey, stirring in a spoonful of fresh cream from the top of the glass bottle of Noris Dairy milk that’s delivered weekly to our neighbors’ front porch. (Three families are now collaborating on this milk order, and it’s so good I’m not sure we can ever go back. It’s quite the little collective we’re developing: I bring the eggs for four families from the farmer who’s a parent at our school; our immediate neighbors orchestrate the milk order and grow vegetables on our sunny side of the shared driveway; the neighbors across the street go halvies with us on a CSA share of more vegetables. I never imagined city life would be like this.) I’d have a great book in my lap, ideally a world mythology compilation illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen back in the late ’50s. (My friend and librarian Maureen has kindled in my soul a hot desire to trawl the internet for ex-library copies of children’s classics long out of print. I am determined that Minnow should know and cherish ancient tales of heroism and love and dastardly deeds and outrageous godly scandal. And the Provensen illustrations are unsurpassable. I’m not sure what it says about my promise as a mother that I’m chiefly concerned that my child should have plenty of handknit sweaters and a library worth devouring. Is it weird that I’m more interested in shopping for musty old books than for adorable outfits and nursery decorations?) And of course I’d be knitting. Since this is fantasy, I’d be making a cabled sweater in a toddler size out of undyed Saxon Merino from the Catskill Merino Sheep Farm. (I have only just read about this yarn in today’s Knitter’s Review, but it’s calling to me strongly. That the yarn comes from sheep tended by a man with a love of Proust and a sheepdog named Poem is, I’ll admit, a significant contributor to the weakness in my knees. I have thus far resisted the urge to buysomerightnow, but it has occurred to me that I could hunt this yarn down at the Union Square Greenmarket in just a few weeks’ time.) This sweater would also bear a motif of stylized red foxes around the hem, because I’m in the mood for foxes.
This is all in my daydreams, see, because I actually need to polish off about five baby sweaters before I could start anything like that. But look who finished a quilt top:
Where would you like to be?
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 1:01 am
I am just where I want to be. Finishing a 36 year teaching career and getting ready to start a new one, taking care of my grandbabies. I have also started my “bucket list” which is filled with “learn to”. I am a 58 year old women who knows who she is and who she is not and loves both. I have lived some amazing thimgs and some heart breaking things and feel bless for both for they have made me who I am. I have a family I love amd who loves me back.
I’m just where I want to be.
Thank you for the great question.
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 4:57 am
The portrait you paint above is so lovely, and definitely speaks to my lit-loving soul. My SIL just had a baby shower and they asked for children’s books instead of cards; I sent an unabridged collection of The Brothers Grimm fairy tales, because I too feel that books are more important than a lot of other stuff.
If I could be anywhere, I think I’d fast forward a year: be settled in a new location with my husband, have bought a house, and be planning a family. But life right now, with all its turmoil, is also quite good.
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 5:55 am
I absolutely do not think your obsession with hunting for excellent children’s books is weird, as if I ever have a child I’m likely to be the same! A good library is a must in my house, for peoples of any age. 🙂
If I could be anywhere, I think I’d like to be in Seattle, with my family. I live in England, so they’re a rather long way away at the moment.
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 6:53 am
Where would I like to be? Knitting camp! Is it July yet?
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 8:19 am
Old books and handknit sweaters–you’ll be a perfect mother!
Right now, if I could be anywhere, I would choose a screened in porch in Illinois (where I grew up) watching a rainshower, or since it’s May, a thunderstorm moving in. I’d have knitting with me, of course, and a fat classic novel. Hardbound, not paperback.
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 8:56 am
I’d like to know what future job I will have, as I’m tired of having so much up in the air until that’s resolved. But in the very short term, a book and a blanket on the beach with perfect summer weather will do just nicely.
I always love to give new parents books for their children, so I think you’ll be the perfect mom with a great collection already in place!
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 9:03 am
Fresh Noris milk is SO delicious! I just buy it at New Seasons, since home delivery is, uh, not exactly practical in our neighborhood.
I think putting together a good library for your kid is absolutely more important than accumulating cute outfits. S/he won’t even remember later in life the booties & sweaters s/he wore, but s/he will remember certain favorite books. I still have fond memories of A Big Ball of String, Arabel’s Raven, my series of National Geographic pop-up books…the list goes on. 🙂 Your priorities are in the right place!
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 11:43 am
I’d like to be at residency graduation…Love the quilt top! I guess M & S are having a girl??
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Eloquent writing! I collect children’s books that are musically themed – in and out of print! Lovely stuff, those old books. And don’t worry, your child won’t remember what the nursery looks like, so knit on in those awesome yarns instead!
I would like to be at home on my new farm, gardening :0) Just a few more days till summer vacation!
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 3:23 pm
What a perfect combination, old books (books of any age) and hand-knits. My 5 grandchildren know that they may get all sorts of toys and clothes from their other grandparents, but Gramma Phyl gives books and knitted items. With the 3 older ones, their birthday gift is a trip to the bookstore to pick what book they want. Then at Christmas I get to pick the book. Great fun for all. And I still give my grown teacher daughter a children’s book that I think she will enjoy and maybe share with her classroom.
As for where I would like to be, well I’m there, living with 5 great kids and sharing my love of books and crafts with them.
Posted: May 21st, 2010 at 7:27 pm
i’d be on the beach with a cool off-shore breeze (and since this is fantasy) in a string bikini lookin’ hot, with a tall pina colada, a good audio book, and some delicious silk laceweight knitting a gorgeous shawl.
Posted: May 22nd, 2010 at 7:28 am
I keep telling my husband that I’d like to take a nap, so in the bedroom with the windows open to a light breeze and a fresh grilled muffin and some juice on the table next to me. An old favorite book in my lap and my knitting nearby. After eating my snack, I would curl up with the book until my eyes drooped and I fell asleep with the book closed under my head.
Unfortunately, today is a day of errands, so I will have to let that be a happy thought for later.
Posted: May 25th, 2010 at 5:25 am
My daughter, who is graduating from high school this spring, LOVES mythology (Greek, Norse, those Dover fairy tale books). Most children do. Would be great to have it in elementary school curricula.
Posted: May 27th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I, too, am fantasizing about knitting something lovely and textured out of that Saxon Merino. It’s even (vaguely) local(ish) to me…perhaps I should make this fantasy a reality!
I would most like to be up in Minnesota right now, with my family. I dislike living so far away from home. In my fantasy world, the university where my dad teaches will want to hire me once I’m done with my degree, and I can live there happily ever after. An unlikely turn of events, I’m sure, but a girl can dream.