Four forty and sleep eludes.
My busy thoughts are calmed by its comforting sound.
A distinct memory settles in, warming me from the inside out.
As a young girl I used to sit next to the heat register
the one near the sliding glass door in the kitchen
so I could be near the busyness of my mother
I would pull my nightgown over my legs
and secure it tightly beneath my toes
The heat would flow out
causing the material to expand like a hot air balloon
The air would turn disappointingly cool
as the furnace would prepare to shut off
I would sneak over to the thermostat
and turn it up a few notches
buying myself a little more time
to drift away
in my hot air balloon
The sound of the furnace
still takes me to a wonderful place
8 comments:
I used to sit in my nightgown over a heater vent and tuck my knees in as well... especially during a cold morning of scripture study with my family. I used to hate being dragged out of bed at 6:00am so we could study before my Dad left for work. Now, as an adult... I miss those tender moments over the heater vent.
There is an MMA Fight every month.. sometimes two. You and Brandon are sooo invited to the next one. We provide the fight... the popcorn... you just provide the fun and laughs. xoxo
I also love the smell of the furnace when it begins it's winter heating season.
All of us kids used to race to get to the vents first. There were only a few of them that we could get too. I love the sound of the furnace too! I think it's very comforting.
and THAT may account for those phantom 'hot flashes' I used to think I was having in Idaho!
Beautiful poem! I remember doing something similar!
What a great childhood memory!
Jodi, When John and I were first married we would sleep out on the hide-a-bed in our front room, close to the furnace to be lulled to sleep. I love it, he just did whatever I wanted....still does. It's a comforting sound, isn't it!
Love, Joy
I used to do that, too. Such a great memory!
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