At a few times in my life, I've not been aware that I've just stepped onto a large X. Change might not be on my mind. Why change? I've always admired lives that flourish in place. The taproot reaches all the way to the aquifer, the leaves bud, flourish, fall, and grow again. I like generations following one another in the same house, where lamplight falls through the windows in squares of light on the snow, and somebody's height chart still marks the kitchen doorway. But there I stand on the X, not knowing it's time to leap, when, really, I'd only meant to pause.
In her memoir "Under Magnolia," Frances Mayes reflects on moments in her life when she was unaware that she was at a pivotal point of change. She considers a life that embraces stability and continuity, appreciating the traditions and generational ties within a family home. The imagery of roots and cycles of growth symbolizes a life well-established in one place, where memories and connections thrive.
Mayes expresses a desire for lasting comfort while admitting that she sometimes unwittingly finds herself at a crossroads, represented by an "X." Her intention is simply to pause, yet she realizes that life may be urging her to leap into new experiences. This internal conflict captures the tension between the love for what is familiar and the inevitability of change.
