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Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Things I Will Miss

As the time grows closer to aliyah, I look around and realize that I have slowly been saying good-bye this last year. Each season is the last here. I will miss some things, although I am convinced I am going to a better future for my family. Is that a delusion? Did my great-grandparents delude themselves that thinking New York was better than Russia? I don't think so, ultimately. They lived in poverty and struggled as immigrants but their families live in freedom and comfort now. Iran's nuclear threats notwithstanding, I believe Israel will endure, and will examine herself and see a way to bring us all together.

Things I regret leaving behind:

the plum trees in blossom in the spring;

the green hills of California's winter;

misty mornings in our valley when the hills right above us are shrouded in fog and the oak trees peek through;

California oaks;

the native and rare California maple in our backyard;

the little coveys of quail;

the flocks of wild turkeys on our hills;

the wild peacocks on the southern side of the valley, descendants of some rancher's pets;

our inquisitive racoons;

the hummingbirds who return to our feeders every spring;

the wind rushing through the high grass of the hills in the summer, so it waves like the rollers of the ocean;

the bobcat that lives by Miller Creek on the south side of the road;

that moment that comes every warm day when the ocean breeze begins to shift and blow inland, bringing the summer fog in like a carpet over the warm land;

seeing the sun and moon rise through the copse of oaks behind our house;

the California Delta and its levie roads, especially during the fall when the flocks are travelling the inland skyways;

Judy's cabin, the closest thing to Rivendell this side of Middle Earth;

the Sierra Nevada, the Range of Light;

the Oregon coast;

Redwood trees in large numbers like Muir Woods and Redwood National Forest;

the azaleas blooming along the north coast;

Fern Canyon;

Olema valley;

Lake Tahoe;

Crystal Springs Reservoir and the hills behind it, especially when they are frosted with fog on the crests;

dogwood blooming in Yosemite Valley in the spring;

misty rain on the hills of this valley;

the Bear trail to the Tuolomne River fork;

Aspens in the Fall;

Tuolumne Meadows at any time, but especially the night;

Judy's cabin's porch at night, with a good Irish whiskey at hand;

Big Sur;

the first yellow bloom of acacia signalling the end of winter;

the Wine Country after the harvest, all green grass, gold leaves and bright yellow mustard flowers;

I am grateful for the time I was privileged to spend in all these places, and glad to know that the things I love will continue to be here for others. Californians have a fine sense of caring for the world around them and so I expect there to be turkey and bobcat, native oak and maple, and dogwoods in Yosemite for ages to come, G-d willing.

7 Comments:

Blogger Toto said...

Those are such beautiful things to miss. Quite different from the usual talk of people asking me if I'll miss this and that (all materialistic things). To which I reply......... "not a chance, but I will miss our big back yard, our friends, and family."

Unfortunately, the scenery here isn't as appealing.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 4:07:00 AM GMT+2  
Blogger Jill said...

Isn't amazing all of the natural beauty that evokes a serenity, peace, and fulfillment all at the same time? These are the treasures we take with us and return to, to feel renewed. It is my hope that when you come back to visit that in some way these vista's of beauty will remain somewhat untouched and unchanged.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 6:15:00 PM GMT+2  
Blogger aliyah06 said...

emas s--hey, I can get a washing machine anywhere, so what's to miss? But a redwood tree? THAT's something to miss (unless we can figure a way to get the government to allow us to bring in a baby Sequoia or two [grin].

jilly--my plan after the first two years is to come back for about 6 weeks during the summer, when Josh is older, and spend the summer visiting all these things, and you and Bob too!

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 8:10:00 PM GMT+2  
Blogger Kapara said...

I miss walking in the hill with pax after the rains. Seeing the deer and wild turkeys in the hills. I guess I will have to get used to the goats... for now.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 10:29:00 PM GMT+2  
Blogger Jill said...

Good to know that you'll come back for a decent length of time to revisit some of your favorite places and us Yosemite lovin' relatives!!!

Thursday, March 23, 2006 at 7:15:00 PM GMT+2  
Blogger westbankmama said...

I grew up in Upstate New York, so one of the few things that I miss are the trees turning in the fall.

Friday, March 24, 2006 at 10:48:00 AM GMT+2  
Blogger aliyah06 said...

wbm--I've never stop missing those trees! We lived in Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a couple of years, and its hard to find that kind of color in California. Our neghborhood has a lot of East Coast transplants so almost every yard has at least one, and often more, tree which goes red or gold in the fall. It's not the same as New England, but it's a reminder....

Friday, March 24, 2006 at 9:51:00 PM GMT+2  

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