Bonfires Are Magical
They just are
I’m sure not everybody will feel that way. But to me, a bonfire carries magic. It carries the magic of love, the magic of building memories that I hope my children remember fondly for the rest of their lives.
A bonfire carries the magic of marshmallows and the giggles of little girls and boys, it bears witness to the smears of s’mores all over their innocent faces.
Bonfires are magical because they create a bubble in time, where things don’t have to be so complicated. A way to step back from the pressures and the worries that adulthood piles on us all.
I hope that when my children think back on these bonfires that I make sure to have with them regularly, that what they remember the most is the love. That they remember the love that went into laying each log just right, and the love that surrounded those magical flames.
I hope that when they are almost forty, like I am now, that they can still feel it. That the magic of bonfires still wraps them in love’s embrace. That the memories cover them in peace and comfort like the blankets we now take out with us, to huddle under together.
I hope they go forward and build bonfire memories with their own kids.
I hope they let me be part of that new magic that they will create.
The chill of the air that fall breathes down your neck in contrast to the warmth of the fire is a reminder that love can ward off the coldness of the world.
A reminder to focus on the warmth of your family, and to turn your back on the chill of outside influences. I hope my children remember that.
I love the sight of flames flickering in the shadows. I love the sound of their not-so-childish voices still raised in excitement. I love the whisper of October on its way out, as November is welcomed with open arms.
Bonfires are magical.
Fall always comes with a high level of nostalgia in the air. Am I the only one who feels that way?
It always makes me wish for things that are long past.
I’ll never again experience childhood. I’ll never again chase after my big brother and sister.
I’ll never again watch in delight as my big brother tells secrets to his many reptilian friends, and they seem to welcome his input.
I’ll never again watch in awe, flabbergasted at how easily my sister seemed to make friends, and somehow make everyone love her. (I know, Sis, I know, but child me didn’t.)
I’ll never again fit in my mother’s lap or not be able to anticipate the ending to my dad’s famous stories. (Sorry, Dad, I’ve heard them all, but tell them again anyway.)
As I gather around the now-limited bonfires this fall still holds for my family, I will make sure to drink each moment in. I will etch the lines of each face of my loved ones in my memory forever.
Soon, these magical bonfires will be the long-ago past that I’m nostalgic for. And I won’t want to forget one smile or laugh or squeal of delight.
The beauty of nature in the fall is something that is beyond compare, in my opinion. I know other people have different seasons they pay homage to, but fall will always be my favorite.
There are so many things that I love about fall, but of them all, bonfires, and all the magic they hold, are my happy place.