Two Places at Once: How I Defy Physics, Conventional Wisdom and Live to Wax Poetic
People are always saying (and by people I mean that disembodied “conventional wisdom”) that you can’t be in two places at once. How is it, then, that I am so firmly divided between two homes and two lives? Part of me is here in Chicago, in the home of my present, surrounded by books and work and the pleasure of a busy life. Another part remains in the home of my childhood, where the grass grows tall with the slightest rain and the air is rich with dirt and leaves and flowers. A summer of shuttling between South Carolina and Chicago (for weddings, the happiest of reunions, and more weddings) has left me disoriented and experiencing a bit of culture shock, but happily so. What a lucky life, to spend it loving such different and divided places.
Two Places at Once: top (gift), skirt (H&M, $25), shoes (gift), necklace (H&M, $3), train tracks (state of SC).
This is one of my favorite outfits from when I was in South Carolina. I really like how the graphic print of the top is somewhat unexpected against the sweetness of the rosy skirt, and how the colors of the outfit echo the flowers that populate my parents’ garden and random fields. Even though I’m ridiculously sweaty and covered in scratches from briars and branches, these are also some of my favorite photos (I know, there are a lot). I took a sort of tour through some of the places I love around my parents’ house- the railroad tracks, the ramshackle farms, the long stretch of highway at the bottom of a hill. The landscape is so different from Chicago that, even though I grew up seeing it every day, it seems new and remarkable when I go back.
That may be the best thing about being in two places at once- each places makes the other seem new and rich, even as it feels like home. Anyone else happy to love more than once place? Do you live in a place that’s different from where you grew up?
PS: A MAJOR thanks to all the wonderful women who guest posted for me while I was away. THANK YOU Emily, Lisa, Tania, Yen, JoAnn, and Andrea!
I love that pink skirt on you! It sounds like you’ve been having a really lovely and full summer. I grew up in East Texas and live in the Upper Midwest – very different places indeed.
What a gorgeous outfit—love the skirt!! You’re making me want to explore more of SC.
I know the feeling–sometimes I can’t figure out where I’m from at all anymore! It’s a blessing to be able to call two places home and it makes the heart full to feel at home in more than one space. On a less thoughtful note, these photos are gorgeeeeeeeeeous and I’m dying over that skirt!
I grew up as a military brat, so no place ever really felt like home. Home was people instead – wherever my mum and dad were. When I moved to Canada at 17, that was the first time a place and the people in it became important to me. Suddenly, I fit. I have an identity as a Canadian that I never had living in New York, New Hampshire, Ohio or Massachusetts. And now that I’m back in the states, I have a home but I don’t know if I’ll ever truly be *back home* until I head north and cross that border again.
This little bio is just fantastic. I love that you’re Canadian by heart, not birth. It only makes me like you more.
The 2 years I traveled for work really made me appreciate where I grew up. Part of me will always love and long for KY (although let’s be honest I only live 20 minutes away). Something about crossing the Ohio River and heading back to the south really makes me feel home.
But what I really came here to say, is lovely skirt Em! It’s perfectly suited for that fun printed top.
Back to the South: that’s what I like to hear!
*Hugs* I am so glad that you’re back. This was such a beautifully written post, Em. You did such a great job with these photos as well — you’re inspiring me to spend some time (safely) exploring my railroad tracks soon …
Thanks, lady! I love writing my posts almost as much as I love playing in my clothes, so I’m glad you liked reading it. Can’t wait to see your train track photos!!
The skirt looks lovely on you. I went to grad school on the East Coat, and while I loved it, it was hard to be away from home.
This post makes me want to go home…..and I already live there. I miss you bustling in and out and all your escapades while taking photos. So much to enjoy when you are around.
You are lovely as always. Can’t wait to see the others that you took.
I miss you much
Mom
I love the background! I totally thought your top was a solid purple top, but then upon further investigation I realized it was a graphic print. Nevertheless, I love it with the light pink skirt! Good call on the pairing.
Complex Cardigans
I am in luuuuuuuv!! Such a perfect outfit! And the setting is gorgeous.
Welcome back! South Carolina is so beautiful and I love going to visit. I do think that you can be in two places at once and it all really depends on where your heart and mind are. I am loving your outfit, especially the print of that top.
Such an incredible outfit and story. I love the skirt with the top. And the railroad is so pretty!
i luuuuuh-ve this outfit, E! purple and pink are a combo that makes my heart melt. dont even get me started on that flowy pink skirt! i might have to steal it right off ya!
It’s yours for the borrow any time!
It’s good to have you back! I have a deep love for Montana where I went to graduate school and also where all of my daughters were born. Every time I visit there, my blood feels effervescent, but alas, I live now in a rural version of my hometown. I like it too.
Where do you eventually want to end up?
Oh, Montana! I’ve only spent a week or so there (I went hiking at Glacier a few years ago), but I fell in love right away. I’d love to go back, and I can see why you’d feel so alive there.
I’m not sure where I want to end up, to be honest. I don’t see myself living in the South, even though I grew up there and went to college there. I loved living in the San Francisco Bay area, and I could definitely see going back there and to the Northwest in general. Or perhaps somewhere like Maine or Vermont. I guess it really depends on who wants to hire someone to talk about religion, gender, and health in Southern Africa. And that is NOT going to get me a whole lot of places, I’m afraid.
I need that skirt! I wish I could live in two places at once, but I’m pretty sure I can only be here where I am. It takes too much energy to do so many things. I don’t know how you do it!
That skirts lovely. Been lusting after that colour for ages =]
Aditi,
http://mysartorialsecrets.blogspot.com/
Best outfit EVAR!! And yes, I feel you, mos def. I’m getting ready to go vaca in non-grad-school-land for awhile and I really really look forward to spending time in new (old) terrain.
Hee. MFace, you look me. You make me laugh forEVAR! Okay, I’m dumb.
Loved all your guest posts but really happy you’re back! Your color and pattern combos can’t be beat, especially when you wear them in such beautiful places. Welcome back!!
I’m loving that skirt! And the background is not too bad either! I wish I lived somewhere green.
I lived in an African desert for 2.5 years and I have to say, I missed the green landscape of home more than anything else.
so beautiful look!!!love your style!!!
That skirt is incredible! Good to have you back to the blog world. I.live in the same place where I grew up and went to college, so I canz.t imagine such a complicated life!
I love the pictures of you sitting on the tracks. It’s so pretty and sort of sad. That skirt is gorgeous, roo!
Hee hee. You said roo.
love how you styled this skirt! its my fav
Thanks! I kind of want to wear this skirt every day of my life, but I suppose that’d be both a: boring and b: smelly. And so I resist.
How the h do you pull off a midi? I look absolutely ridiculous in them.