Driving home from Lorien's baby shower tonight, I was struck by a familiar feeling. It's not often that I'm driving alone at night these days, so this hasn't happened in a while. However, as I sailed across the bridge on I-205 toward home, with a perfect song blaring on my car stereo, the city of Portland rose to greet me. All my life, I've loved the sudden shock of lights as an entire metropolis appears out of nowhere. I'm sure this stems from growing up in an isolated valley surrounded by mountains and flat expanses of desert. To get to my hometown, one must drive through 15 miles of blankness. At night, with almost no streetlights, the route is pitch-dark and silent. Few cars are present, and it feels like you are driving straight into the abyss. Rounding a curve, though, the lights of the city quickly appear, welcoming me home. It's the same effect here, in my real home, and the sensation is always as strong. To me, there is no better feeling than flying down the highway late at night, surrounded by city lights and stars in equal measure.
Though "Landslide" is the most appropriate choice for such moments, this is the song I was listening to:
Love that song! I'd never heard it before.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the post. Very evocative of feelings that I've had myself.
Holly put the song on a birthday mix for me :)
ReplyDeleteThere's something magical about city lights, no? I'm sure Vancouver has the same effect.
Coming around the curve and seeing the valley lights is always comforting. Although you've definitely found your true home, the valley will continue to evoke strong feelings as well.
ReplyDeleteListen to the opening four bars of this song.....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzhbGaCwBzs
Yeah yeah, there's nothing new under the sun.
ReplyDelete