I am home.

“Yeah, I love you more than the feeling when the bass hits the hook

When the guy gets the girl at the end of the book

But, baby, this might be the last time I get to lay you down

'Cause I can't love you more than my hometown.”

Unless you moved around regularly, many of us are able to say, “I am from here or there.” We have memories of growing up, making friends, and sticking around until it was time to leave. I know where I am from, but over time as the years increase from not living there, my adopted town has in many ways become my new hometown. 

Having roots is important; we need some form of grounding and the ability to feel part of a community or place. I am sure not everyone feels this way, but when you need to feel wanted, it just feels necessary to go to where you were originally loved.

I am a Midwesterner. Always have been, and I would suspect until I call it a day at work, I will likely live in the states that most people fly over and really don’t care much about. Their loss, our gain. Actually growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis turned out to be really good for life after living there and moving on after school. 

When I moved to Chicago, after leaving Columbia, MO—where I went to school—-I was worried. Check that, I was really worried. I thought I was really ready to make the big step to the big city, but I was far from it. I remember driving into Chicago, on a Friday, and I hit a major traffic jam. This was in the summer when traffic tends to be lighter and if this was stressful, not having a job put it over the top.

It’s now been decades since I left the area where I grew up; and it’s been almost 2 years since I have been there, and if it were not for the times we are in, I would be back. The first two people I would visit are always home. They’re my parents and they now reside in a cemetery about 3 miles from the home where I spent my formative years. The years where I played “Indian ball” with neighbors, celebrated 4th of July’s lighting fireworks, and drove my parents crazy—-I will always have St. Louis in my blood—-I may not live there any more, but my heart always will.

The photo above is the national landmark that St. Louis is known for; this and the Cardinals. I remember when the Arch was built, I don’t remember much about it, but the one thing I do know is will always love my hometown.

Thanks for stopping by.