Scenes From My Life

Ten years.  The thought crossed my mind earlier today.  It has almost been ten years since I was last there.  When the thought occurred to me, I had to stop and double check my own math.  It does not seem like it has been that long.  After all, that place is still as clear in my mind as if it had only been ten days .  But, sure enough, it has been that long. I remember the last time I was there.  On the day I left, there was the chance that I might not be back.  Circumstances were changing… making that a real possibility.  Still, I do not think I really seriously considered it.  As far as I was concerned, I would probably be back.  There was no need to mark that moment or take “one last look.”  I simply walked out the door and went on my way. Maybe that is why I remember it as I do.  There is no sense of leaving or finality to my memories.  There is just … the place.

For more than two decades, I have had the same view.  When I was in elementary school, my parents bought a house.  From my bedroom window, I could see the end of the street.  Just beyond that, I could see train tracks … where freight trains passed, chugging down the tracks at all hours of the day and night.  No matter how loud the whistles were, they rarely bothered me.  The sound of train whistles became as common as car horns on neighboring streets. When I moved to an intown apartment, my bedroom had a large window.  From that window, I could see the end of the street.  Again, just beyond that, I could see train tracks, where other freight trains passed at all hours. I have just moved to another apartment.  This apartment also has a large window that looks out … onto a courtyard.  There are no train tracks.  No whistles can be heard.  For the first time in almost thirty years, I will not live near train tracks.