Travel and the imagination

I must admit...some of my best memories from travel never actually happened. In my planning for trips I often find myself wondering what exciting things will happen to me while I'm on my journeys. I imagine that I'll see some amazing sites, perhaps an eagle will fly close by, maybe I'll see an enchanted scene, like out of a movie. Or my most favorite and common, the one where my romantic side takes lead. I'll live out the most amazing love story while on the trip. Perhaps my car will break down heading into Yosemite where a cranky and handsome rancher will come to my rescue. Perhaps, I'll meet a man who needs my help with something and something develops. It's silly I know, and belongs in the pages of a book. Heck, it is all fodder for a future romance book.  So perhaps I'll leave you all with a short imagery, one from my quick imaginings of trips past.

The evening brushed wisps of air against the skin and down the back giving chills to anyone who still dressed for summer. Fireflies danced around the edges of the nearby woods, mirroring the twinkle lights hanging overhead. She stood on the porch of activity center, the wood boards creaking beneath her feet wishing she'd brought a sweater to put over her sundress. Almost as soon as the thought of the chill popped into her mind, it swished away again as she became enchanted by the view. It was a magical fairyland. The pergola cover of the porch boasted purple wisteria, hanging onto those final days of summer. Each night, she knew, fewer lightning bugs would appear. Each day, more flowers would fade. Even as she enjoyed the prospect of Autumn, she felt a little sad, a little nostalgic for the last days of summer.

She leaned against a post, hearing the tinkling of glasses and laughter of party goers in the activity center behind her. She only had a few days before she had to head home, back to work, back to life. All summer she'd been spying him, the same man, he was handsome, not in the traditional sense but there was something about the way he held himself, the way he moved that attracted her attention. He had been allusive though, disappearing each time she drew near. She sighed, it was like the rest of her life, the idea of a romance dancing around the edges but never fully coming to fruition. As she watched the scenery, she heard creaking of those cranky floorboards. Someone was approaching. She could tell from the smell, from the sound of the walk exactly who it was. "Beautiful night" He said. She turned around....and smiled.