Wander In Flame

During a weekend visit to a friend's home, I let my mind wander, as I intently watched the beauty of his fireplace. When it was time for sleep, I passed on the offer of a nice bedroom, preferring instead, to sleep on a comfortable couch, to remain in clear view, of that wondrous miracle of life, an overnight, ember-based wood fire.

My dictionary lists the following, as one of the definitions for the English word, wander: "to take one direction or another without conscious intent or control."

That definition is so very accurate, in describing how my mind "wanders," when I am in the presence of a wood fire. Each of my senses is affected by a roaring fire. My sense of well-being is transformed so that I become perfectly comfortable.

Humans have obviously been connected to the use of fire for eons. It is one of the basic necessities that separate us from all other species. We alone. are the life form that uses and controls fire.

As I intently watched that fire, I took note of every part of its performance. First, I loved the way the firelight moved in a harmony of light and color. Each and every flame was a different size, shape, and distinct hue. The embers and coals glowed and waned in brightness, before tumbling at the base of the fire pit.

I could also hear a variety of distinct sounds from the fireplace. We are all familiar with the snap and crackle of a wood fire. As I listened this night, I tried unsuccessfully to determine the exact location of each sound, but as with all wood fires, it had no rhyme or reason to the cadence of its popping noises.

The smell of this fire also made me feel comfortable and secure. I asked my friend what type of wood he was burning, and we both smiled, when he informed me that it consisted of a "bit of every kind he had cut from trees on his ranch."

There are many different smells that a wood fire proffers, to our olfactory system. On this night, this fire presented, a sweet smell that I suspected might have come from some type of fruit tree. Blended with this sweetness, I thought I detected another smell, perhaps created by the still green condition of one or more of the logs.

I was acutely aware of the feel of the fire on my body. There is a particular wave of warmth that a wood fire spreads into the room. As this warmth touches you, it makes one feel warm, in the way only a wood fire can.

The only sense that was not affected as I gazed into the fireplace that evening was my sense of taste. Although no food or liquid was heated over the fire, I could close my eyes and imagine the taste that it would have produced. We all know and are familiar with the taste of things cooked over a wood fire.

As I lay and watched intently, my eyes eventually betrayed my wish to keep the fire in view, and I drifted into sleep. Several times during the night, I would awaken briefly, and notice the ever-increasing pile of glowing embers. The logs themselves had gradually diminished as the flames began to fade to a bare glimmer of before.

At one point my friend must have entered the room to check the fire. I awoke just as he was placing two very large logs into the fireplace. He turned and saw my eyes upon him. In the firelight, our faces were highlighted in that particular yellow light that is so familiar.

"That ought to hold the fire till morning," he stated matter-of-factly. He used his poker and expertly moved and turned the logs so that they appeared to fit naturally in place. It was like a picture from a magazine.

He left me to return to my sleep, but I again tried to remain awake as these new logs began to be consumed by the fire. There were many more sparks now, as the new wood and it's bark were heated to the point of combustion. It was like watching fireflies on a summer night as they rocketed and twisted upward towards their journey to the chimney.

Then, as before, I drifted peacefully into slumber. I have never been one to sleep late in the morning. I do not really like sleep too much. I suspect I fear in some way that I am going to miss something. So, as is so often the case I arose early, noting that it was still dark outside.

I looked at my phone and was shocked to see that the time was much later than I would have expected. Then in an instant, I remembered that this was the Sunday that daylight saving changed. I had lost an hour while I slept.

I lingered for a few more moments beneath the covers, and continued to keep a faithful guard over the fading fire. A fireplace in the early morning takes on another distinct view. It almost seems to beckon one to tend it. I obliged its request, and did my best imitation of my friend as I poked the embers to life.

I was not sure how long I stayed there motionless watching the morning fire, when my friend joined me. He made a large pot of coffee, and we returned to our vigil, awaiting the others to rise.

We talked about many things as we drank our morning brew, but we made no motion to leave our places in front of the fire. We knew that our departure from this comfort and the wandering of our minds, would end soon, but for just a few more moments, we lingered on.

Join me, close your eyes, see, smell, feel, and hear, the fire. Let your mind wander with the flame.