Tuesday, September 18, 2012

What I Thought About On the Bus Ride Home Tonight

I hate September she said, but I did not want to talk. So I said Mm, the universal, non-committal shut up of buses and airplanes. It was only after retreating from that stretch of awkward conversation that I realized it was too late to ask why.

Why would anyone hate September? With its sweet scent of pencil lead buried deep, new sneakers, leaves, forever the memory of growing seeds in Dixie cups. Because September is safe, soup and something new. All these years later and it is still the beginning. I love September for its simplicity, a purity that I can still taste if the light is right.

For a very brief second I thought about hugging her. Not really, but god. From the corner of my eyes I watched her thin fingers flip the pages of her magazine and I felt bad. Does she not remember circle-time? The fascination of earthworms smeared across the pavement after the first rain? Who made her childhood not feel safe? And is that why she hates September?
Thank you Mom & Dad for giving me a safe childhood. Even if you apparently never brushed my hair.






















p.s. Not coincidentally, this is what Zoey and I are listening to lately.

7 comments:

eRin said...

I love September. Growing up in the Bay Area, I loved the way the air turned thin and crisp, and the way the night sounded because the thin crisp air carried the noises differently. I loved the smell of new clothes, new shoes, new plastic backpacks and lunchboxes and binders and school supplies. I LOVED the smell of brand new Pink Pearl erasers...

Apparently, September can be rough on those who suffer from depression (http://dooce.com/2011/09/29/autumnal-equinox). Something about the light that I love can mess with your brain. I wonder if the woman on the bus knows that, specifically or inherently, or if she just hates the end of summer...

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Anonymous said...
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kacey2004 said...

September is the best est time,my birthda,September 13 and my firstborn's on the 6th and my Mom's on the 11th.The birthday week we call it all born the same month and we couldn't be more different or alike in so many ways.But yea September is magical to me somehow not being like any other month almost like its its own time desperate from the other Calender months,its is its own month and doesn't belong with the others.Its not that's its so much better by intent it just can't help but be better because it doesn't feel like any other month and no other feels like it.All the other months have such defining qualities,June,July and August the hot carefree summer months,October and November the crisp fall weather brining in the cold and holidays,December,January and February, cold and all wintery wrapped together than March April and May,spring and nice and rain and flowers but September she's all alone,with her head in the clouds dreaming in her own little world of 30 days of awesome,a lot like those of us who are born during her time,in a world of our own.

kacey2004 said...

September is the best est time,my birthda,September 13 and my firstborn's on the 6th and my Mom's on the 11th.The birthday week we call it all born the same month and we couldn't be more different or alike in so many ways.But yea September is magical to me somehow not being like any other month almost like its its own time desperate from the other Calender months,its is its own month and doesn't belong with the others.Its not that's its so much better by intent it just can't help but be better because it doesn't feel like any other month and no other feels like it.All the other months have such defining qualities,June,July and August the hot carefree summer months,October and November the crisp fall weather brining in the cold and holidays,December,January and February, cold and all wintery wrapped together than March April and May,spring and nice and rain and flowers but September she's all alone,with her head in the clouds dreaming in her own little world of 30 days of awesome,a lot like those of us who are born during her time,in a world of our own.

Geli said...

September is the birthday of my mom and daughter too, but aside from that it's our nicest summer month down here in southern Cal. Tourists are gone, weather is perfect and the sunsets are spectacular. Best of all: kids are back in school at the beginning of September!
Yeah, September defiantly proves August to be more favorable.

Anonymous said...

That is the perfect description. Safe. September thru December are so nostalgic for me. Always have been and it looks like they always will be.