Sundays in My City: The Breath of the Wind

Things are good. Back-to-normal kinda good. Joel is back to his old tricks, confounding  fellow toddlers with his death-defying antics.

Of course we were at Panera, and because Panera Bread is the high school cafeteria of Calvert County, we naturally ran into a friend.

This boy is one month older than Joel, and behaves as befits his mature age. He sat in his chair, ate his bread and juice, and as my child attempted to jump into the fireplace, he looked at him and thought, "Kid, what the hell is your problem?"

Like I said, back to normal...

***
Well, almost. While Joel was having his surgery, Owen spent the weekend with his grandparents in Virginia. They actually live in King George County, "The Gateway to the Historic Northern Neck," but we met up with them in Fredericksburg. 

Fredericksburg is ridiculously historic. George Washington was born just a bit south. His mother had a house in town. It is the also the site of a Civil War bloodbath--The Battle of Fredericksburg. Almost 20,000 men lost their lives---and I'm sure it wasn't pretty.

I think of these men (and, especially, the women and babies they left behind) as I walk these streets. I don't dwell, but I recognize their whispers in the slate rooftops and the aged glass windows. The Decemberists song, "Yankee Bayonet" haunts my mind:

But oh my love, though our bodies may be parted
Though our skin may not touch skin
Look for me with the sun-bright sparrow

I will come on the breath of the wind.

There's a lot of sorrow in these streets. Yet, they support my feet and bring much joy.

For this what people do--we create art and absurdity.

We eat and drink, while watching the world do its busy little dance.

We refuse to be smothered. We grow. We improve. We inspire.

 

We will always, in some way, be with the people we love. For we come on the breath of the wind.

Thank you, Unknown Mami, for allowing me to show off my city. Stop by her page to hear other stories.