Days of Olden Notes
Book of golden stories
Days of olden notes
Now the autumn leaves are falling
We'll meet on the edges
Memories, no regrets
Now the minstrel boy is calling...
Music and laughter and friends: such were the days of high summer that were gifted to elzkitten and I. :-)
As always, click thumbnails for expanded photos.
Years ago, vvalkyri introduced me to Great Falls on the Potomac ( entry), seeing the beautiful cataracts from the overlooks above the falls on the Maryland side. But vvalkyri had pointed out to me that it was possible to view the falls from the rapids themselves, from the Virginia side. And so it was, years later, that elzkitten set out on a sunny, happy drive with the windows down and the Celtic music of Clandestine cranked up; and singing together, set out to explore Great Falls from the waterside.
With even the slightest bit of rain or mist, clambering over slippery rocks so close to the swift-flowing river would have been inadvisable. Fortunately, the weather had been sunny and clear for days on end and the rocks were bone-dry, even dusty. It was thus entirely safe and easy to follow the iron pipe down the gully leading to Fisherman's Eddy, and then climb up and down the rocks along the rapids towards the falls themselves. As enchanting as the falls are from above, the sight and sound and feel of mist of being *at* the level of the falls was even more engaging. A beautiful bit of nature, right there in DC's backyard.
From cataracts to pinnacles - a subsequent weekend saw us explore Talcott Mountain, up in Connecticut, near another one of Elspeth's rotation sites. An trail that wrapped up a succession of beautiful overlooks of the autumn colors of the Hartford valley, leading up to the storybook tower built by a wealthy food magnate for his beloved.
There was also enjoying the waning days of sunshine here in Maryland, where elzkitten grew up and her parents still live. Barbeques, and milkshakes. Sailing on the Cheasapeake and hacking portals in Ingress. Or just time spent together on the couch with Mochi, our cuddly tortoiseshell cat. Between her bouncing between different hospitals every month on 4th year rotations and my own attending and research duties, snatching out brief moments of time to spend, together.
And through the course of the summer, through the course of her wandering 4th year medical life, I got the chance to introduce elzkitten to more and more of my dear friends. So many adventures - many captured in the pages of this Journal - given to me by so many kind hearts over two decades since I first left home. And a joy it is, to introduce so many of those - so many of you - wonderful people, to elzkitten. :-)
At the Mobtown in Baltimore. In Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, under a blue autumn sky. Here and there this summer did elzkitten and I find chances to share the magic of swing. But perhaps the best and most marvelous, was at Glen Echo, with dear, dear friends.
silmaril and vvalkyri are both extraordinary dancers, and both introduced me to the wonder and beauty of dancing over a decade ago. It was thanks to them, and those they introduced me to (like Jesse) who made me fell in love with dancing. And then I fell in love with elzkitten, who herself loved swing just as much.
And so it was, one late summer evening, in the famed Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo, I got to share a marvelous, magical evening of Swing with two of my dearest lady friends and the beloved who captured my heart. And it was as joyful as you would imagine. :-)
Winter comes.
But I'm just deeply, deeply grateful to have been blessed, in the waning days, with the gift of love. With the gift of someone extraordinary, to share the waning days with.
Next: Revels and Favors.