Sometimes, the words we most need to say don’t have a place to land, until they do.
In her beautiful poem Words in the Wind, Charlottesville community member Angela Orebaugh captures a quiet, powerful moment of connection through one of our Wind Phones at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont.
Her reflection illustrates the hope that, even in grief, we can find comfort, connection, and healing in nature through words carried on the wind. We’re grateful to Angela for sharing her experience through this moving poem and for the opportunity to share it with you.
Words in the Wind
By Angela Orebaugh
As I wandered through the quiet woods, the snow crunched softly beneath my boots while birds wove their songs through the trees above. Ahead, something unusual interrupted the familiar winter landscape: a wooden box affixed to a tall pine.
Drawn toward it, I brushed snow from its ledge and found, to my surprise, an old-fashioned telephone resting inside—a deep red body, a bronze dial, and a handle gleaming like gold. A small plaque beside it read: Telephone of the Wind…A connection to those we’ve lost…Your words will travel where they need to go.
I stood still for a moment, listening and observing, making sure I was alone. Then, with careful hands, I lifted the golden handset and dialed the first phone number I ever memorized.
6… spin… click click click
4… spin… click click click
1… spin… click click click
“Grandma,” I whispered as the final click settled. “I miss you.”
The words continued to cascade along a river of tears. I told her of my heartaches, the troubles of past and present. I told her how much I longed for her encouragement, her warm hugs, and the way she said she loved me with such ease and sincerity.
Once my heart had emptied enough, I ended the call the way she always ended hers, “See you later alligator”.
As I placed the golden handset gently back in its cradle, a cardinal’s song floated in the branches overhead—soft, bright, familiar. The sounds of the woods rose up to fill my ears while the snow drifted silently down, filling the rabbit tracks beneath my feet.
For a moment, the woods – and my heart – felt full, as if my message had already found its way to where it needed to go. I know I’ll call again.
Where to Find a Telephone of the Wind Phone Near You
You can learn more about the Wind Phones and their locations here. As we continue expanding access, we are excited to share that upcoming installations are planned for this Spring and Summer:
We look forward to bringing these additional spaces of healing and connection to even more members of our community. If you are grieving and seeking support, we invite you to visit our Grief and Healing page. These services are offered free of charge, made possible by the generosity of philanthropic support.
