Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Touching Base

I left a comment the other day on Kyla's blog where I used the phrase "touch base." Although it is an expression I use fairly frequently I had a sudden and very strong image of all of us, this whole virtual community, "touching base."

When I was kid "base" was usually a tree used as the safe spot for a game of hide and go seek with the neighbors. We'd all sneak out of our hiding spots and dash for the safety of the tree, then stand there, with our hands on the rough bark, panting, and yet revelling in our safety.

And so the image I had was of us all meeting at the tree, coming out from our hiding place, or whatever it is that keeps us busy. With our palms on the bark we lean into the tree trunk while we talk to each other. We've come back to this base - this safe place - to reconnect, to share, to play and rest and just be....) Then we'll run back out for another crazy game.

But we'll be back. To touch base.

Jen's post comparing writing and reading blogs to gathering around each other's campfire made me think of this same thing, too: how when we would go camping when I was a child there was nothing like a campfire to bring us together at the end of the day, to sit, and talk, and sing. Walking through the campground we'd often be invited to sit at a stranger's campfire, and we'd share conversations and s'mores. Campfires are a lot like "base." Only don't put your hand ON one. Please.

20 comments:

flutter said...

((you))

the dragonfly said...

It's nice to have a place to reconnect after a busy day, isn't it.

I have to agree, though, that a campfire is not good for "touching" base. ;) Sitting around it works just fine.

Rima said...

I like that!

Mad said...

You're IT!!!!!!

Girlplustwo said...

kinda like home base? or the better yet distant memory of making it to 3rd base?

Anonymous said...

Ollie, Ollie, in come free. that's what I think of.

I'll bring the marshmallows.

Jen said...

Coming out from my usual hiding place to touch base.

Now back to my tree....

thailandchani said...

Interesting way to conceptualize it. It works. :)

Furrow said...

Wow. There's such good stuff from childhood. Why do we ever leave them behind? I guess the point you're making is that we don't, entirely, we just construct them differently. Having a child has helped me tap back into that well a bit (remember the song "Found a peanut"? I just remembered it a few days ago when I needed a long song for a fussy car ride.), and we haven't even gotten to the really good stuff, yet.

Thanks for tapping the well even deeper.

Kyla said...

I loved that comment. Great sentiment.

Kat said...

I was just teaching the boys tag this past weekend and I was explaining home base, but I called it ghoul. Does anyone call it ghoul besides me?

Run ANC said...

I've been so busy in the past couple of weeks, and I keep feeling like something is missing. It is..all the stories.

JCK said...

This was SO lovely. So lovely.

Barrie said...

What great ways to describe the connecting that comes from blogs.

imbeingheldhostage said...

Wow, what a great post. Is this "get philosophical week" for all of us?

Family Adventure said...

Perfectly put!

Heidi

Woman in a Window said...

And why is it that all I could think about was, "When is she going to get to third base?" eesh, in need of sleep (or sumpin).

Wayfarer Scientista said...

and I'm back to touch base and catch up. Hi!

carrie said...

That makes perfect sense. I'm happy to be a part of your community . . . your "base." :)

obsidianopinion said...

To Kathyrn's question: I call it ghoul. Inexplicably. I would like to know why the little playground urchins that taught me tag called home base 'ghoul'.