Home....

Well, I am just back from a quick trip over the Great Smoky Mountains to North Carolina. I didn't take any time off from work...just a quick 2 day jaunt over. I love the trip over, especially at this time of year. Each season offers so many new and exciting view through the park. I love it in the winter, when it is a magical world of icicles. But spring is so gorgeous, with the green just coming in, and the dogwoods starting to bloom.

There is, however, in my opinion, nothing like coming home. It has been a great many years now, since I left the comfort and security of Mama's house to marry Joey. We moved 1,000 miles away, to a wretched little apartment, that became our first, "home." I have lived so many places since that first little apartment. But they were all Mine. From North Chicago to Virginia Beach to Staten Island to Ten Mile to Kingston to Sunbright. With the exception of North Chicago, I picked out each and every home we had, and the one I have now. There was something about all of them that made me just have to have it.

When I picked out the first home I ever "owned," in Kingston, I had to have it because of it's close proximity to my Mom, who lived right down the road. I didn't know when I bought it that she would soon become ill and pass away. My Dad would then come to live with us. I will never be able to thank Joey enough for getting me through the death of my Mother, and the nervous breakdown that was my Dad's life from there on. Without him, I most surely would have dropped into a world of madness myself.

We lost my Dad in that house. We also lost his parents in that same 30 day time span. That was one of the lowest times in our life.....I think he would agree. But we got through it together, because that is what we used to do. Sometimes I miss my ex-husband so much it physically hurts. People who know us now or have only known us for the last few years could never understand that. But I do, and I believe he does, as well.

I don't know what brings this sadness up in me sometimes. It's not that I think my marriage was a failure....It produced a wonderful son, so how could it be anything but a success?

Actually, I kind of know what it is......I am reaching that time from the end of March to the end of May....that is the time when death seems to be-fall my family. I am not very superstitious (well, maybe a little) but when you have 8 deaths hit the family in the last 10 years, you start to sweat a little, come this time of year. I guess it brings out the melancholy in me.

So here's to home. The thing this post started to be about....Home Sweet Home. Home is where the heart is. Home is where you hang your hat. Home is where you rest your head. Home is where, when you go there, they have to let you in. There' no place like home......

Jill