There's Something About Hometowns...

I recently went on a trip back home to Levittown, PA. This trip came at just the right time for me. During the last few weeks leading up to this trip I was actually getting a little homesick, or as I like to call it... "peoplesick". It wasn't Levittown or "home" that I missed so much but more the people that come with it. The reason being- I am one of the luckiest people I know. I come from a big, loving, caring, Irish & close (emotionally & geographically) family. I grew up with 2 sisters & 7 cousins all within a 4 block distance of my dad's house. I was born with best friends already in place. And along with the cousins came 4 aunts, 3 uncles, & a very loving & caring grandmom. At any given time- I had 5 houses available to me. 5 houses full of people who loved me. 5 houses within walking distance. 5 doors I could walk in at any time of day without knocking. 5 refrigerators I could raid without a raised eyebrow. 5 different places I could call home. Needless to say, my adventurous spirit aside, these were hard things to leave behind when I decided to move across the country.

Just the 10 of us- Me, 2 sisters & 7 cousins

I've always been adventurous though. I think it comes mainly from having a mother who created a terrible environment at home- so any possible adventure was a welcomed escape. And so I embraced adventures excitedly. The further I could get from home and the longer I'd be away, the better. Mexico, Europe, Africa- all visited by the time I was 18. And that's continued to be my path for the next 11 yrs and I hope it continues to be the path I take for the rest of my life. Aside from escaping my tragic mother, traveling has always opened up my mind, my heart, my senses, and my self-inflicted limitations to new possibilities. 

It's always been known to friends and family alike that I "leave for a living." It's always been known that I wouldn't live in Levittown, PA for the rest of my life, or even in America. (I think the family will agree they are happy I chose Colorado for now, and not some jungle off the radar in Africa, but never say never ;)

With all the traveling I've done, decisions I've made, and new paths I've chosen to take, I still miss everyone back "home". I miss the late nights with cousins & aunts & too many cases of Yuengling Lager. I miss falling asleep and waking up to my dad playing his guitar in the kitchen. I miss the walks to Gram's house with my cousin Tony. I miss the laughter of late nights and the shocking sound of birds chirping at Aunt Janie's. I miss those times when Maria made me laugh so hard that milk came out of my nose on more than one occasion. I miss walking barefoot on warm pavement during summer nights to cross the street to my best friend Jacqueline's house. But I know it's all our love that keeps us together over every distance. And I know that every time I come home, we will pick up right where we left off. And their support and respect for my decisions and mine for theirs is what keeps all our relationships strong. And I know that even at 29 yrs old, I can still walk over to Jacqueline's house, barefoot at midnight and be greeted with a large glass of wine, smiles & great friends (and that's just what I did a couple Friday's ago when I was home). 

Maria, Me, Jacqueline

I guess what I've learned is that home is a special place- a place that will never be replaced by any where else on this earth- no matter how beautiful, how tropical, how seemingly perfect- there is only one place that will always be home. This doesn't mean that I have to stay there, or choose the life that my parents, siblings or cousins might choose. My hope is that I can create a new, beautiful and different life here in Colorado, one that my kids (ha!), when they are traveling to far off exotic places, will be calling home. The place where they grew up, were loved, and had the memories that no other town, house, or street will ever give them. 

My Current Home- Crested Butte, CO- Not a Bad Place to Be...

wei-wu-wei, 

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