The Shadow-gloom and Weight of the Sacred

In the winter months, I could see the steam rise from Fernwärme Wien as I sat looking out the window in our kitchen.

It's been a while since I've written about Vienna. The last time was just a short post (Wiener Träume) written in March of last year. I still think about Vienna  a lot, but it's usually just little things here and there. I don't dwell on it much anymore. Even last summer, though I wasn't writing much about Vienna, I was dwelling on it in my thoughts. I only recognize this in retrospect, I suppose. Last summer, I often listened to Ö1 (streaming over the internet) on my headphones as I fell asleep. Since I usually go to bed around midnight, I was able to listen to the morning news in Vienna. I remember learning of the riverboat disaster on the Volga by listening to Ö1. I still listen to Ö1 occasionally, just to hear the German, but not all that often.

Still, there are days when I really miss Vienna. There are days when I find myself perusing over the city on Google Earth to see my old stomping grounds in Floridsdorf, Donaustadt, and Mariahilfe Strasse. There are days when I like to look at recently posted photos of Vienna on Flickr to get an idea of what is happening in the city. There are a few live cams that I also look at when I get in the Vienna-blues mood. During the Christmas season there is a live cam on the Rathaus that I really like because I always miss the Christkindlmarkt!

Yesterday, I was very much in a Vienna mood. But, not so much today. I'm happy and content with the direction we're headed in life. Yesterday was a Vienna day. Today is just a normal day. Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be an Oklahoma City day?

Of course, there will always be a place in my heart for Vienna. I think if I could live in any city, it'd be Vienna. But, I guess the timing was off. Maybe one day.