Pages

Sunday, February 20, 2022

The power of prose.

Yesterday, we were hit with high winds and a snow squall and it made me nostalgic.

Way back in the day, on the cusp of my move from Ohio to the Netherlands, I had rented a room from a friend while my crated belongings steamed their way east.  She had a Victorian monster in the original settlement of Cleveland - Ohio City, on the Cuyahoga River.  This was one of those neighborhoods that was just beginning to rise from decay to decadence.  It wasn't even half way there at the time.  I sat in my garret room, surrounded by an alarming array of antiques and collectibles (alarming because a- they weren't mine, b- they were mostly fragile and c- I'm not known for my graceful movements), spending my remaining stateside days reading.  I happened to be reading A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, while a blizzard raged outside.  About halfway through the book, I was overcome with a desire to dine on baguettes and Brie, washed down with a nice fruity (French) wine.  When I say 'overcome', I mean it.  I pulled on boots, hat, scarf, gloves, wool coat, and fought my way blindly through the snow until I reached the West Side Market, some 12 blocks away (including a bridge).   Let me say, here, that I miss that market something fierce.  Of course, the market was less glitzy when I was a customer, but it was like having a little pocket of Europe in your backyard.  

I got my baguette, my cheese and a cheap bottle of vino and battled my way back.  I finished the book, sitting on the floor with my repast.  Heaven.  


14 comments:

Mama Pea said...

Now you know what I want? A baguette, some brie and a bottle of cheap wine. So it's Sunday morning a little before 10 a.m. So what! ;o)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Now THAT was a craving!

Steve Reed said...

You may be the only person on the planet who associates a snowstorm with Provence! LOL!

gz said...

Heaven indeed!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

what a great memory! and i know that neighborhood and market so very well. i am due to make a trip there soon!

Michelle said...

Love YOUR bit of prose. I'm sitting here at my parents' (your comment to my post was full of knowing; thank you!) craving some goodies that aren't in the house with no way to get them. I will survive, but I'd hike to a market if there was one to get stuff right now. Probably a good thing I'm stuck, because I know it would be stress eating....

Joanne Noragon said...

And the West Side Market still prospers. And, welcome back.

Debby said...

Isn't it strange how the smallest details become unforgettable?

ellen abbott said...

A 12 block hike including a bridge in a blizzard? You are made of sterner stuff than me.

Ed said...

That book has certainly made me want to attempt something similar at some point in my life. Maybe not going all in and buying but perhaps a long term rental.

Theresa Y said...

I go to the market about about every 2 weeks. It's changed since I've grown up. Now my daughter goes there too. A lot of the old vendors are gone. It's changed, but still there. I know the city of Cleveland really needs to step in and give the vendors what they need to do business safely and effectively.

Retired Knitter said...

Wonderful story! Now I want a snow storm! hahaha.

Nancy In Boise said...

That's living!

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

That does sound wonderful!!! I love all those components and you really can't fully appreciate a blizzard unless you go out in it!