The trip to Arkansas was like traveling a journey that took much longer than the four days I spent there. Driving from the city views to the deep pine forests of my childhood, I leave behind so much of what I know here….and return to a place that nurtures my inner most being simply by being present.
Upon arrival to my hometown of my middle years, I stopped to find a next door neighbor child grown up to become a professional presentor and singer, to pick up her new album…..but she was headed to the same homecoming we were going to…visiting with her Dad and hugging his neck poured into my heart the first dose of “you are loved” that I often get when I return to my home area. I am not anyone’s definition of success in life, but there are some people who simply love you despite you and Mr. John is one of those people in my life….always awaiting with a smile …always willing to listen or to help.
Dropping off my daughter to my father’s antebellum home always makes me long to live within its walls again….I love that old house and the knowledge that folks have lived there in that space since 1854…and that it has seen more life than I can comprehend as it faced tornados, Civil War general’s using it as a headquarters, Roaring 20’s womanhood….and has raised many families to adulthood…
Driving further South I called my dear friend who is in her late seventies and asked what was going on….she replied gayly “my friend Linda and I are indeed sitting down to a steak dinner, come on” I laughed and surprised her as I told her I was 15 minutes out! She cackled and laughed as she said she’d be at the door waiting….the joy of friendships that last even after you move 500 miles away and have 30 years between your ages…..we melt into school girls every time we share ….oh the blessing of presence with that friend!
After Chaser’s homecoming I drove to yet another dear friend’s home, the kind who goes to bed and leaves the light on for you and allows you to use her home as your own…..and we got up early Saturday to visit as much as we could before she had to leave for work…..how good to see a friend who’s life is back on track and who is reaching out and fulfilling her dreams of college in her thirties and successfully raising her highly gifted son alone.
I returned to my girlfriend’s home in my old home’s town to shower and visit until I was to pick up my son from his friend. How good to hear how our dear friends are continuing in their seventies and eighties…..how sad to know one dear heart has left this earth only a few weeks ago….her home burned to the grown the very night I arrived, a grand old Southern farmhouse….and the tears I shed to know all her antiques and hard earned things had become ashes….a life lived well gone…..how I so miss her precious smile that taught school at 82, next door to my classroom for several years!
Sunday morning we arose at 5 so we could surprise the children’s natural father as he came of working a night shift and grandparents by bringing breakfast to their home before church, and we did. It was a joyful time to let them see the children for a couple of hours before we had to go. An ice breaker time as I met my exhusband’s fiancee’, share with their excitement of an upcoming marriage and we and his extended family shared a meal together….for now we will share the children and its better sooner than later to learn to get along together…..how thankful I am for grandparents of my children who help affirm that divorce is a paper seperation of adults but children tie us all together forever and we all need to allow the children to have us all with out guilt, shame, or choosing. Yesterday was a good day for affirming that, and I was glad we stepped out of our comfort zone to try!
Home again home again, with God affirming so many lessons in the travels made….and opening my eyes to new places he wants me to grow…
God is good….and I am glad to be home
