Homesick

I have always been one who believed in the whole "bloom where you're planted" philosophy. Whenever moving to a new place, it's best to start calling that place "home" right away and do everything you can to turn it into your home. I pretty much stick to that and try my hardest to make wherever I live my home.

But I have been so homesick for my last home lately. Re-reading some of my blog from last year, seeing all the fun we had running in sprinklers, swimming, visiting with my parents (who lived close), seeing my brothers come for visits to my parents and being able to see them because we lived close, all of that I miss so much!

Don't get me wrong, I like it here well enough. The landscape is pretty, the people are decent, there is lots to do. The kids have taken after-school classes in art and Spanish, husband and I are taking a ballroom dance class right now. I've been taking violin lessons. We've enjoyed the museums and the zoo. The different weather--the cold and snow--have been fun for the kids.

But I miss the place I used to call home. I miss the warmth, the never-ending sunshine. I miss the monsoons. I miss my parents and being able to stop by and see them, go out on a lunch date or dinner date with my mom on occasion, have the kids play at their grandparents' house. I miss the friends I had there, the church members with whom we were acquainted. Especially now that they are in warmer weather and spring is truly there for them--I read their blogs and all their outdoor day trips and park playdates and I sulk in the fact that where we live now, spring is trying really hard to come but winter keeps pushing it back.

It's the long-winter blues, I suppose. I just miss the sunshine and warmth and closeness I felt with those around me there. New friendships are wonderful, but they cannot replace the old.

I have an acquaintance who was telling me a sad story about her friend whose ex was coming to take the dog. I suggested that maybe she help her friend find another dog, but she said, "You can't just replace one dog with another and have it be the same." That is true, and new friendships can be comforting and wonderful, but it doesn't stop you from missing the old friends.

Ruthann, Lindsey, I miss you in particular. If you ever get a chance to come up here, please, please do! You have a place to stay, even with all your kids. And if I'm ever down there, don't be surprised to find me on your doorstep!